State short on facilities for waste water treatment

Vikram Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 8

Though a state policy is in place for waste water reuse in Jammu and Kashmir, there is a lack of clear guidelines and framework to support the implementation of the projects related to it.

As per the present statistics and details available and projected for 2041 in the state policy vis-à-vis the condition of sewage treatment plant installations, J&K may face a shortfall of providing treatment to entire municipal and industrial waste water.

Waste water generation in J&K is both by industrial and municipal sources. Initially, with development and industrialisation, waste water generation from industries was significant but the municipal waste water generation was less but with increased environmental activism, waste water generation from the industrial sector has been treated and recycled, making it sustainable. The municipal sector sewage over a period of time has increased due to increase in urbanisation and has left an inseparable impact on urban perennial water sources such as surface riverines and ground water.

According to Central Pollution Control Board estimates, 85 litres per capita per day out of 135 litres per capita per day of waste water supplied to a household is released back in the form of sewage from households. It is estimated that this may increase to 121 litres per capita per day in 2030, with increased population and diminishing waste water recycling.

The J&K Urban Environmental Engineering Department, keeping 2010 as the base year, provides that out of the total 301 million litres per day (MLD) of water supplied to its urban areas, 80 per cent of it, including leakages and non revenue water, is accounted for contributing to sewage generation. Hence, sewage generation is high and the same parameter is used for computation of total sewage generation for the entire state.

For sewage treatment and water reuse, the statistics present a gloomy picture. The total capacity of sewage treatment at present in the state (base year 2016) has a capability of treating only 119.40 MLD against a whopping 1,504 MLD released everyday. However, out of the total 119.40 MLD of the state’s share, Jammu fails to treat its 67 MLD due to three treatment plants established at Bhagwati Nagar lying defunct since their inception.

The scheme planned for the next five years shows that the total capacity of sewage treatment will treat only 589 MLD per day, still falling short of 1,095 MLD.

High sewage flow  

The J&K Urban Environmental Engineering Department, keeping 2010 as the base year, provides that out of the total 301 million litres per day of water supplied to its urban areas, 80 per cent of it, including leakages and non revenue water, is accounted for contributing to sewage generation. Hence, sewage generation is high and the same parameter is used for computation of total sewage generation for the entire state