In a significant move to tackle water scarcity and improve conservation, the Gujarat government is putting the final touches on a revamped Water Reuse Policy. This new policy, dubbed Water Reuse Policy 2.0, comes after the state's 2020 policy failed to deliver its intended results.
Mandatory Use and a Shift in Oversight
The cornerstone of the upcoming policy is a mandatory requirement for key sectors to utilise treated water. Industrial units, urban civic bodies, and real estate developers will now be compelled to incorporate treated wastewater into their operations. In a parallel administrative shift, the responsibility for monitoring and regulating this water use mechanism will move from the Water Resources Department to the state's Urban Development Department (UDD).
Officials highlight a stark gap in the current system. While approximately 4,300 million litres per day (MLD) of industrial effluent and sewage is treated across Gujarat, only about 1,000 MLD is actually reused. The vast majority of this treated water is simply discharged into rivers and other water bodies, representing a wasted resource. The cost of treatment is currently around Rs 10 per 1,000 litres.
Addressing the Reuse Gap with Economic Incentives
"A majority of the treated sewage and effluent is wasted as it is not used. The government is finalizing a policy where there can be optimal use of treated water," an official source stated. Presently, agriculture is the primary consumer of the little treated water that is reused.
The new policy aims to change this by creating a structured demand. Industries, which have traditionally purchased fresh water from the Water Resources Department and the Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board (GWSSB), will now have to procure treated water in proportion to their total water requirement. The key incentive for compliance will be pricing. Treated water will be supplied at a cheaper rate compared to the fresh water they currently buy.
"Industries with a higher requirement of water will have to purchase proportionally higher quantities of treated water. Real estate developers will also have to reduce dependence on groundwater for their requirements," sources explained.
Learning from Past Shortfalls
The drive for Policy 2.0 stems from the acknowledged underperformance of the 2020 water reuse framework. Official sources admitted that the targets set under the existing policy were not met. The proposed overhaul is explicitly designed to maximise the use of treated water in the state, turning a waste product into a valuable commodity for non-potable needs.
This policy shift signifies Gujarat's proactive approach to water resource management, aiming to reduce pressure on freshwater sources and promote a circular economy for water. By making reuse compulsory for major consumers and backing it with an economic advantage, the state hopes to see a substantial increase from the current reuse figure of 1,000 MLD.
