C Shivakumar
Chennai:
Even though there is lack of data on reuse of wastewater in the world, Metro Water officials claim Chennai is the pioneer in utilizing treated waste water for industrial use.
Even as the study by Japan's Tottori University and the United Nations University's Canadian-based Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) claims that almost one third of nations report zero information on reuse of waste water, Chennai’s Metro Water officials said that they are currently providing 45 MLD of treated water to industries.
“We are also planning to generate 60 MLD of additional treated water to be supplied to Sriperumbudur Industrial Estate, which is a hub of industrial activities, on the outskirts of the city,” said a Metro water official.
He said a detailed project report for the project is likely to be completed within two months. But experts want Metro water to do more. S Janakrajan, professor of Madras Institute of Development Studies, feels that recycling is most important for conservation of water. He says water management is complete only when we re-use water.
“Metro water is using very little re-used water. It is hardly five per cent of it despite so many treatment plants being set up,” says Janakrajan, whose institute Institute has undertaken a project on Sustaining the Ecology of Chennai and Its peri-urban Areas: A Long term Strategy Document for Water Conservation funded by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.
Interestingly, even the policymakers abroad are looking at treated wastewater for farming and other purposes. An international study predicts a rapid increase in the use of treated wastewater for farming and other purposes worldwide in the wake of growing competition for freshwater from industry and cities, coupled with a rising world shortage of potash, nitrogen and phosphorus.
Water demands already exceed supplies in regions with more than 40 per cent of the world's population and in just 12 years as much as 60 per cent of the world's people may confront water scarcity.
Synthesizing what data there are on wastewater treatment, the study shows that, on average, high-income countries treat 70 per cent of the generated wastewater, upper-middle-income countries treat 38per cent, lower-middle-income countries treat 28 per cent. Just 8 per cent of wastewater generated in low-income countries undergoes any kind of treatment.
It is claimed that wastewater irrigates between 1.5 per cent and 6.6pc of the global irrigated area of 301 million hectare area (1.2 million square miles) and that about 10pc of world food is produced using wastewater. However, according to the study, there is little data to support such claims.
In developing countries, particularly in water scarce countries, wastewater volumes are thought to have increased substantially in recent years due to rural-urban migration. Many farmers in water scarce developing countries irrigate with wastewater because it is the only water source available for irrigation year-round and wastewater irrigation reduces the need for purchasing fertilizer, the study states.
The combination of less freshwater allocation to agriculture and growing volumes of urban wastewater, is expected to continue and intensify, particularly in water scarce countries.
Agriculture in these countries will increasingly rely on alternative water resources, such as wastewater generated by non-agricultural activities in urban and peri-urban areas.
Under-reporting of wastewater generation, treatment and reuse might relate to fear of economic repercussions in agricultural trade due to concerns regarding food safety and phyto-sanitary measures, the report states.
Factfile:
--- Chenai Metro Water is pioneer in treating waste water
--- Metro water supplies 40 MLD of treated waste water to industries
---- Another 60 MLD treated water plant will be set up to supply treated waste water to industries located in Sriperumbudur
--- The combination of less freshwater allocation to agriculture and growing volumes of urban wastewater, is expected to continue and intensify, particularly in water scarce countries.
--- Water demands already exceed supplies in regions with more than 40% of the world's population and in just 12 years as much as 60% of the world's people may confront water scarcity
--- Only about 32% of the wastewater generated in Asia is treated
--- High-income countries treat 70 per cent of the generated wastewater, upper-middle-income countries treat 38per cent, lower-middle-income countries treat 28
Chennai:
Even though there is lack of data on reuse of wastewater in the world, Metro Water officials claim Chennai is the pioneer in utilizing treated waste water for industrial use.
Even as the study by Japan's Tottori University and the United Nations University's Canadian-based Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) claims that almost one third of nations report zero information on reuse of waste water, Chennai’s Metro Water officials said that they are currently providing 45 MLD of treated water to industries.
“We are also planning to generate 60 MLD of additional treated water to be supplied to Sriperumbudur Industrial Estate, which is a hub of industrial activities, on the outskirts of the city,” said a Metro water official.
He said a detailed project report for the project is likely to be completed within two months. But experts want Metro water to do more. S Janakrajan, professor of Madras Institute of Development Studies, feels that recycling is most important for conservation of water. He says water management is complete only when we re-use water.
“Metro water is using very little re-used water. It is hardly five per cent of it despite so many treatment plants being set up,” says Janakrajan, whose institute Institute has undertaken a project on Sustaining the Ecology of Chennai and Its peri-urban Areas: A Long term Strategy Document for Water Conservation funded by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.
Interestingly, even the policymakers abroad are looking at treated wastewater for farming and other purposes. An international study predicts a rapid increase in the use of treated wastewater for farming and other purposes worldwide in the wake of growing competition for freshwater from industry and cities, coupled with a rising world shortage of potash, nitrogen and phosphorus.
But the biggest issue is lack of awareness about treated waste water in Indian cities, says Janakrajan. He says many cities in India are not treating their waste water.
However, lack of awareness about treated wastewater is a global phenomenon. The international study states that of the 181 countries studied, only 55 have information on three key aspects of wastewater: generation, treatment, and reuse. Another 69 countries have data on one or two aspects, 57 countries show no information on any aspect.
Water demands already exceed supplies in regions with more than 40 per cent of the world's population and in just 12 years as much as 60 per cent of the world's people may confront water scarcity.
Synthesizing what data there are on wastewater treatment, the study shows that, on average, high-income countries treat 70 per cent of the generated wastewater, upper-middle-income countries treat 38per cent, lower-middle-income countries treat 28 per cent. Just 8 per cent of wastewater generated in low-income countries undergoes any kind of treatment.
Interestingly, only about 32 per cent of the wastewater generated in Asia is treated.
In developing countries, particularly in water scarce countries, wastewater volumes are thought to have increased substantially in recent years due to rural-urban migration. Many farmers in water scarce developing countries irrigate with wastewater because it is the only water source available for irrigation year-round and wastewater irrigation reduces the need for purchasing fertilizer, the study states.
The combination of less freshwater allocation to agriculture and growing volumes of urban wastewater, is expected to continue and intensify, particularly in water scarce countries.
Agriculture in these countries will increasingly rely on alternative water resources, such as wastewater generated by non-agricultural activities in urban and peri-urban areas.
Under-reporting of wastewater generation, treatment and reuse might relate to fear of economic repercussions in agricultural trade due to concerns regarding food safety and phyto-sanitary measures, the report states.
Factfile:
--- Chenai Metro Water is pioneer in treating waste water
--- Metro water supplies 40 MLD of treated waste water to industries
---- Another 60 MLD treated water plant will be set up to supply treated waste water to industries located in Sriperumbudur
--- The combination of less freshwater allocation to agriculture and growing volumes of urban wastewater, is expected to continue and intensify, particularly in water scarce countries.
--- Water demands already exceed supplies in regions with more than 40% of the world's population and in just 12 years as much as 60% of the world's people may confront water scarcity
--- Only about 32% of the wastewater generated in Asia is treated
--- High-income countries treat 70 per cent of the generated wastewater, upper-middle-income countries treat 38per cent, lower-middle-income countries treat 28
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