In a move to augment water supply in the national Capital, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has decided to formulate a policy for treating the city’s effluents. Termed as greywater or sullage, the water utility is planning to make treated waste water available to consumers for non-drinkable purposes. The policy includes decentralisation of Sewage Treatment Plants and commissioning of another plant in Kapashera.
“Sources of raw water are limited in Delhi and hence, we are now moving out to recycled water. A guidance document will be prepared now wherein a blueprint of what is the way forward will be chalked out. The water will be not for drinking, but for indirect use such as gardening, washing cars, among others,” said Vijay Kumar, CEO DJB. The document will be drafted in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Kumar had called a meeting on Saturday to review the implementation of the policy in which various institutional and legal issues pertaining to the use of recycled water were discussed.
When asked about the status of the proposed water reclamation plant in its Coronation Pillar Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), he said that work is underway. Meanwhile, while the high-tech plant is yet to be commissioned, the water utility has planned to design all its new STPs on similar lines. Once started, the plant at Coronation Pillar will cater to the water needs of nearly 4 lakh Delhiites. The city’s current water demand stands at 1,025 MGD, whereas the total sewage production amounts to 680 MGD. Meanwhile, the capacity of the 32 STPs under DJB is 589 MGD only.
The DJB has also passed the commissioning of a 23 MlD (million litres a day) plant at Kapashera. “The plant will have improved treatment standard and the water will be utilised in the hospitality sector around the international airport and for horticulture. A 10 MlD tertiary treatment plant at Okhla STP will be constructed from where the treated effluent will be available for washing of buses and for construction needs,” informed an official. The water utility also plans to involve public through awareness initiatives.