Article:
India is taking strides in managing its water resources more efficiently. This commitment has been further strengthened by the launch of a nationwide project on World Water Day (22nd March) to reuse grey water—run-offs from kitchens, bathing, and laundry. This initiative would contribute to addressing the country’s water crisis.
The Concept of Grey Water
Grey water is wastewater produced from day-to-day household activities such as washing dishes, laundry and bathing. While this water may contain harmful bacteria and potential faecal contaminants, if treated properly, it can be a vital resource for various non-drinking purposes.
Despite the importance of grey water, India currently lacks a focused policy framework for managing and using it across urban and rural regions. However, some guidelines for wastewater treatment are in place. For example, the Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organisation (CPHEEO) has outlined standards for the permitted discharge of treated water and its use in agriculture and horticulture.
‘Sujalam 2.0’ Grey Water Recycling Project: An Overview
The Sujalam 2.0 Grey Water Recycling Project is aimed at building institutional level greywater management assets. These would be placed in Panchayat Ghars, healthcare facilities, schools, Anganwadi Centres (AWCs), community centres and other government institutions.
The campaign also encourages the creation of individual and community greywater management assets. Building on the success of Sujalam 1.0, which led to the construction of more than 1 million soak pits at the household and community levels, the new phase would be funded through Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen Phase-II, 15th Finance Commission tied-grants, MGNREGS or a convergence of all.
The Urgency to Address the Grey Water Crisis
Efficient grey water management could lead to significant savings on fresh water use and reduce demands on public water supply. Additionally, it helps in reducing the volume of wastewater entering sewers or on-site treatment systems.
The urgency for effective water management is underscored by the global water crisis being experienced by 2.2 billion people. Sustainable Development Goal 6 seeks to provide universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation. Currently, an estimated 31 billion litres of greywater is generated daily in India.
The Sujalam 2.0 campaign is set to usher in significant activity on solid and liquid waste management across over 6 lakh villages. Through Jal Jeevan Mission, 6 Crore tap water connections have been provided since its launch in August 2019, resulting in a total of 9.24 Crore households having access to water through taps.
Other Related Initiatives
India has launched the Jal Shakti Abhiyan, which initially aimed to cover water-stressed districts and was extended to all rural and urban districts in 2021. The Atal Bhujal Yojana, launched in 2019, encourages individuals to prepare their water security plans.
On a global scale, the Global Water System Project marked the international community’s concern about human-induced changes to fresh water and its impact on the earth system.
Way Forward
There is an urgent need to develop sustainable practices to conserve water. It’s equally critical for the central government to set up water purification or Reverse Osmosis (RO) plants to address contamination issues effectively. Thus, through these steps and more, India can hope to tackle its water crisis efficiently.