Resource Recovery and Reuse Series 8)

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Resource Recovery and Reuse Series 8) RESOURCE RECOVERY & REUSE SERIES 8 Recycling and Reuse of Treated Wastewater in 8 Urban India A Proposed Advisory and Guidance Document About the Resource Recovery and Reuse Series Resource Recovery and Reuse (RRR) is a subprogram of the CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE) dedicated to applied research on the safe recovery of water, nutrients and energy from domestic and agro-industrial waste streams. This subprogram aims to create impact through different lines of action research, including (i) developing and testing scalable RRR business models, (ii) assessing and mitigating risks from RRR for public health and the environment, (iii) supporting public and private entities with innovative approaches for the safe reuse of wastewater and organic waste, and (iv) improving rural-urban linkages and resource allocations while minimizing the negative urban footprint on the peri-urban environment. This sub-program works closely with the World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations University (UNU), and many national and international partners across the globe. The RRR series of documents present summaries and reviews of the sub-program’s research and resulting application guidelines, targeting development experts and others in the research for development continuum. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH: Science with a human face RESOURCE RECOVERY & REUSE SERIES 8 Recycling and Reuse of Treated Wastewater in Urban India A Proposed Advisory and Guidance Document The authors The Water and Sanitation Program (WSP) is a multi-donor World Bank. Water and Sanitation Program (WSP); partnership, part of the World Bank Group’s Water Global International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 2016. Practice, supporting poor people in obtaining affordable, Recycling and reuse of treated wastewater in urban India: safe and sustainable access to water and sanitation A proposed advisory and guidance document. Colombo, services. WSP works directly with client governments at Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). the local and national level in 25 countries through regional CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems offices in Africa, East and South Asia, Latin America and (WLE). 57p. (Resource Recovery and Reuse Series 8). doi: the Caribbean, and Washington DC. The program places a 10.5337/2016.203 strong focus on capacity building by forming partnerships with academia, civil society organizations, donors, ISSN 2478-0510 governments, media, private sector and others. e-ISSN 2478-0529 ISBN 978-92-9090-834-0 The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) is a non-profit, scientific research organization focusing / wastewater treatment / water reuse / recycling / sewage on the sustainable use of water and land resources in / urban areas / urban development / policy making / developing countries. It is headquartered in Colombo, Sri wastewater irrigation / water resources / water supply Lanka, with regional offices across Asia and Africa. IWMI / freshwater / water demand / groundwater irrigation / works in partnership with governments, civil society and pumping / sanitation / pollution / economic value / cost the private sector to develop scalable agricultural water recovery / agriculture / nutrients / industrial uses / fertilizers management solutions that have a real impact on poverty / greenhouse gases / energy consumption / farm income / reduction, food security and ecosystem health. IWMI is farmers / India / a member of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future. Copyright © 2016, CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems, International Water Management Institute (IWMI). Unless otherwise noted, you are free to copy, duplicate or reproduce, and distribute, display, or transmit any part of this paper or portions thereof without permission, and to make translations, adaptations or other derivative works under the following conditions: ATTRIBUTION. The work must be attributed but not in any way that suggests endorsement by WLE or the author(s). NON-COMMERCIAL. This work may not be used for commercial purposes. SHARE ALIKE. If this work is altered, transformed, or built upon, the resulting work must be distributed only under the same or similar Creative Commons license to this one. Front cover photograph: Woman working on a farm in Tamil Nadu, India (photo: Hamish John Appleby/IWMI). Designer: W. D. A. S. Manike ii CONTENTS List of Figures ................................................................................................................................................iv List of Tables ..................................................................................................................................................iv List of Boxes ...................................................................................................................................................v List of Appendixes .........................................................................................................................................vi Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................................vii Abbreviations and Acronyms .....................................................................................................................viii Advisory and Guidance – Notes for Policy Makers ......................................................................................1 Purpose and Scope .........................................................................................................................................4 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................4 Water Demands by Sectors and the Demand–Supply Gap .............................................................................4 The Growing Urban Sanitation Challenge .......................................................................................................6 Recycled Wastewater – an Alternative Water Resource ..................................................................................6 Regulatory and Policy Guidance on Wastewater Recycling and Reuse ...........................................................6 Technological Options and Treatment Levels ..................................................................................................7 Economic and Financial Benefits of Wastewater Recycling and Reuse ..................................................10 Recycled Wastewater – an Additional, Reliable and Cost Effective Source of Water ......................................11 Wastewater Recycling – Offsetting the Need for Additional Sources of Water .........................................11 Recycled Wastewater – an Affordable and Assured Source of Water for Industries .................................11 Wastewater Recycling to Meet Agricultural Water Demand .....................................................................12 Wastewater Recycling in New Urban Growth Areas – Planned Reuse for Non-potable Requirements ....................................................................................................13 Sale of Recycled Water – a Source of Revenue for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) ............................................13 Valuing the Nutrients Present in Wastewater .................................................................................................14 Economic Value of the Nutrient Load in Wastewater ...............................................................................14 Reduction in Fertilizer Use on Account of Wastewater Irrigation ..............................................................14 Increase in Overall Farm Income Due to Wastewater Irrigation ................................................................14 Reduction in Ground Water Pumping Due to Wastewater Irrigation ..............................................................16 iii Reduction in Energy Requirements Due to Reduced Water Pumping for Irrigation ..................................16 Greenhouse Gas Mitigation from Use of Treated Wastewater for Irrigation ..............................................16 Way Forward ..............................................................................................................................................16 Initiatives at the State Level ..........................................................................................................................17 Initiatives at the Utility Level ..........................................................................................................................18 References ..............................................................................................................................................20 Appendixes ....................................................................................................................................................22 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Cost of supplying water to industries in selected Indian cities. .............................................................5 Figure 2. Balancing treatment with recycled wastewater use..............................................................................9 Figure 3. Unit capital cost of treatment for different types
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