The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is reshaping how Indian cities manage sewage by turning treated wastewater into a reusable resource. Under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U), the government has approved projects worth ₹11,785 crore to set up sewage treatment plants in small cities, adding 4,900 million litres per day of treatment capacity. This marks a shift from simply disposing of wastewater to recovering and reusing it for irrigation, industry, horticulture and urban services.
Key facts
- ₹11,785 crore approved for sewage treatment plant projects under SBM 2.0
- 4,900 million litres per day (MLD) of treatment capacity to be added
- Jaipur’s Dehlawas STP: 215 MLD capacity, built 2020-23 on 22.50 hectares
- Indore: 10 sewage treatment plants, 200+ km of piped network, 1.25 lakh rainwater harvesting units installed in 2022
- Surat: Four tertiary treatment plants with 116 MLD combined capacity
- Navi Mumbai: Achieves 100% mechanised sewer cleaning, reuses over 30% of treated water
- Tirupati: 50 MLD STP, generates ₹6 lakh monthly revenue by selling 5 MLD to industry
What is Used Water Management
Used Water Management (UWM) is a new approach to urban sanitation that treats sewage from homes and businesses, prevents untreated sewage from reaching rivers and water bodies, and enables safe reuse of the cleaned water. Instead of discharging treated water into rivers after treatment, cities now use it for productive purposes. This reduces demand on freshwater sources and protects the environment.
Water Plus Certification and standards
The Ministry has introduced Water Plus certification, which sets guidelines for managing wastewater from households and commercial establishments. Cities that receive this certification must ensure that wastewater meets satisfactory treatment standards before discharge. Indore became the first city to receive Water Plus Certification, demonstrating that treated wastewater can be kept out of natural water bodies entirely. Navi Mumbai is the only city in Maharashtra to achieve a five-star rating and Water Plus Certification. The Open Defecation Free (ODF) ++ protocol strengthens this further by assessing the safe management and treatment of entire sewage, including faecal sludge and septage.
How cities are reusing treated water
Across India, cities have begun to find second life for treated wastewater. In Jaipur, the Dehlawas plant supplies treated water for irrigation and industrial use. Indore uses treated water for water gardens, roadside plantations and road washing. Surat has established four tertiary treatment plants and reuses treated water in industry, lake rejuvenation, agriculture and mass plantation. Navi Mumbai reuses over 30% of treated water in city gardens and for washing waste vehicles and buses. Tirupati has created a revenue model by selling 5 million litres per day to Srikalahasthi Pipes Ltd, generating ₹6 lakh monthly net revenue, while supplying 18 MLD free to farmers.
Urban Local Bodies and long-term planning
The Ministry is empowering Urban Local Bodies, which are municipal corporations and city authorities, to create long-term, city-level plans for wastewater reuse. Cities are being given responsibility to define how treated water will be deployed across their jurisdiction. Technological advancements in sewage treatment and automation, such as Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems used in Jaipur’s plant, are helping cities operate treatment systems more efficiently.
What this means for you
For city residents, this shift means cleaner rivers and groundwater as untreated sewage is prevented from entering water bodies. Cities will face lower pressure on freshwater sources, which may help reduce water scarcity during dry seasons. Farmers in cities like Tirupati benefit from free supply of treated water for irrigation. Industries can access treated water at competitive rates. Urban services like road cleaning and garden maintenance will become more sustainable. The approach also creates local jobs in sewage treatment operations and maintenance.
What happens next
The Ministry continues to expand sewage treatment capacity in small cities through SBM 2.0 projects. More cities are expected to adopt Water Plus standards and develop reuse plans. Preventive maintenance of sewer networks and installation of monitoring systems will accelerate across Indian cities to prevent sewage leaks and improve system efficiency.