New Delhi, Aug. 25 -- Farmhouses in Delhi using treated sewage water for lawns and other permitted activities will have to pay Rs 10,000 per acre per month under the proposed Reclaimed Water Policy, while the one-time infrastructure charge for providing a connection has been increased tenfold from Rs 10,000 to Rs 1 lakh per acre.
The policy, approved by the Delhi Jal Board, seeks to reduce dependence on groundwater and potable water by turning treated sewage into a larger source for non-drinking purposes. The DJB will hold consultations with stakeholders before sending the policy to the Delhi government for approval.
Water Minister Parvesh Verma said the charges had been fixed after considering the cost of creating the supply network. "For spreading the pipeline from STPs to farmhouses, crores are spent, so the amount has been decided considering everything," he said. Delhi currently treats around 750 MGD of sewage, of which nearly 483 MGD is available for reuse after accounting for environmental flows. However, only around 120 MGD is currently being reused, leaving nearly 363 MGD of treated water available for wider use.
Under the proposed policy, DJB will identify Reclaimed Water Service Areas around compliant sewage treatment plants and connected sewer networks. Construction sites measuring 500 square metres or more in these areas will be required to use reclaimed water for dust suppression, curing, washing and road watering.
Verma said the government would arrange treated-water tankers for construction activities at rates lower than prevailing market prices. Housing societies will also be encouraged to install dual-piping systems so that reclaimed water can be supplied separately. Until such systems are installed, societies and other users can receive treated water through tankers. The policy proposes a phased shift by bulk consumers, with the government targeting 100 per cent use of reclaimed water for eligible non-potable requirements by 2036. The water can be used for horticulture, landscaping, washing, industrial cooling, flushing, irrigation and firefighting. The proposed regulations will require colour coding, separate infrastructure, metering, on-site storage and physical separation from potable-water networks. DJB officials will be empowered to inspect premises, examine records and collect samples, with penalties for violations.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.