Page 58 - CIJ Sept 2025- Digital Edition

WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT

Wastewater Treatment in India:

Urgent Reforms Needed for a

Cleaner Future

Untreated wastewater consisting of pathogens and chemicals
have been contaminating water bodies leading to illnesses
and environmental harm. Praadip Barkale, Functional Head
of Effluent Treatments at Allanasons Pvt. Ltd, emphasises
that a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach that includes
infrastructure, policy and community action is needed.

major issue is the lack of condition, leading to leaks and solution is to mandate the adoption
basic infrastructure, such overflows. of cleaner production technologies
as Sewage Treatment and robust systems that manage
Plants (STPs), in small Solutions waste before discharge. The
A villages, towns and A critical step is to invest highest standard Zero Liquid
gated societies, which contribute in infrastructure so that every Discharge (ZLD), which aims
a heavy sewage load to rivers. village, town and community to eliminate wastewater and
Most existing treatment facilities has a treatment facility. It is also sludge disposal entirely, should
also lack the capacity to treat the essential to modernize existing be implemented for combined
available wastewater quantity municipal, industrial and sewage facilities. This treated water and
and do not use modern, advanced treatment facilities to improve sludge can then be converted for
treatments like membrane their capacity and efficiency in reuse, such as for irrigation or
filtration. In addition, sewage removing pollutants. supplementary manures, fostering
systems are often in poor physical For industrial wastewater, a key a circular economy.

58 SEPTEMBER 2025 • Clean India Journal • www.cleanindiajournal.com