In a few months, the state govt is set to implement the central govt’s Liquid Waste Management Rules, 2024, which are currently in the draft stage. These rules aim to address the growing challenges of wastewater management across residential societies, urban local bodies and industrial clusters.
The new rules will have significant implications for residential societies, both existing and newly constructed, as they introduce stringent requirements for wastewater treatment and reuse.
Under the new rules, residential societies are categorised as bulk users of water, especially those exceeding 5,000 litres of daily water consumption or having pollution load exceeding 10kg of biological oxygen demand (BOD) per day.This will include a vast majority of apartment complexes. These societies must register on a centralised website managed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
A crucial aspect of the new regulations is the concept of extended user responsibility (EUR). EUR makes bulk users responsible for the treatment and reuse of the wastewater they generate. “Stringent reporting mandates societies to provide monthly and annual data on their water consumption, wastewater generation, treatment, reuse and discharge through the online portal,” a senior urban development department official said.
Beginning April 2027, new residential societies will be required to recycle 20% of their total water usage. From April 2030, this requirement will increase to 50% recycling of the water used.
Existing societies have lower targets, beginning with 10% in 2027-28 and 25% from 2030-31 onwards. These targets aim to promote sustainable water management practices across residential communities. The official added, “Societies also cannot engage in wastewater management activities with any entity that is not registered under these rules.”
For industries, the rule states that they must meet specific wastewater reuse targets, calculated as a percentage of their total freshwater consumption. For example, an industrial unit consuming 1,00,000 litres of freshwater per day must reuse at least 60,000 litres of treated wastewater by 2027-28. “These rules particularly apply to thermal power plants, the pulp and paper industry, and the textile industry, which are key sectors for implementing wastewater reuse initiatives,” the senior UDD official added.
“Real estate developers are reducing water usage in construction and implementing systems for recycled water use in residential buildings,” said Viral Shah, vice president of Credai Ahmedabad-Gihed.
The textile processing industry uses large quantities of water and believes it cannot meet recycling and reuse targets without govt support.
