The contamination of rivers worldwide is a pressing concern. Approximately 43% of the world’s rivers are polluted with active pharmaceutical ingredients. This pollution has potentially devastating health impacts and highlights the critical need for effective waste water management. With India being a significant contributor to this situation, particularly in pharmaceutical hubs like Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, the country urgently needs to address these concerns.
Understanding Waste Water
Wastewater, often referred to as sewage, is essentially polluted water. It originates from rainwater runoff and various human activities. The categories include domestic, industrial, and storm sewage. While natural processes can typically purify raw sewage dumped into water bodies, increasing population and urbanization have led to sewage discharge rates that surpass these natural purification capabilities. Consequently, excess nutrients cause eutrophication leading to deteriorating water quality.
Waste Water Treatment: A Crucial Process
Sewage treatment, or wastewater treatment, involves the removal of impurities from wastewater before it reaches aquifers or natural bodies of water. On-site Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) are responsible for this crucial process. STPs primarily focus on removing contaminants from household sewage, thus purifying wastewater for possible reuse.
Waste Water Management Status in India
As per the Central Pollution Control Board report published in 2021, India’s current water treatment capacity is 27.3%, and the sewage treatment capacity stands at 18.6%. While this exceeds the global average of around 20%, it is insufficient. Government statistics reveal that 62.5% of wastewater in urban India is either untreated or only partially treated. Also, most sewage treatment plants established under national initiatives are non-functional, indicating a significant gap in waste management practices.
Regulating Waste Water Management
The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 are primary legislations providing the regulatory framework for waste water management in India. These Acts aim to prevent and control water pollution, maintain wholesomeness of water, and prescribe sewage and effluent discharge standards.
Government Initiatives Working Towards a Solution
The Indian government’s Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 (SBM 2.0) focuses on solid waste, sludge, and greywater management. Meanwhile, the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) launched sewage and septage management projects. Both these initiatives reflect a concerted effort to address wastewater management issues comprehensively.
Challenges in Effective Waste Water Management
Despite these efforts, there are formidable challenges in managing wastewater effectively. Jurisdictional ambiguities and power imbalances between the Centre and the States complicate the regulation process. Additionally, centralised wastewater treatment solutions require a well-developed network of interconnected sewers and drainage systems, making them expensive, labour-intensive, and time-consuming.
The Way Forward for Effective Waste Water Management
A holistic and collaborative approach is required to address wastewater issues efficiently at all levels. To complement centralised treatment plants, cost-effective alternatives like decentralised wastewater treatment plants, bioremediation, and phytoremediation can be utilised. Decentralised wastewater treatment plants can be installed directly on-site, treating the wastewater directly at its source. Bioremediation uses microbes to break down pollutants and hazardous effluents, while phytoremediation employs plants and associated soil microbes to reduce contaminant concentrations.
The issue of wastewater management is complex, but feasible solutions can mitigate impact on the environment and human health. This calls for a collective effort of the government, industries, and citizens to ensure effective wastewater management and safeguard our future.