Noida Authority Yet to Submit Comprehensive Plan for Treated Wastewater Utilization
Nearly one year after the National Green Tribunal issued a directive, the Noida Authority has failed to present a detailed plan or timeline for achieving full utilization of treated wastewater. The tribunal's order aimed to prevent wastage of this valuable resource.
Current Treatment and Reuse Statistics Reveal Significant Gaps
In a December affidavit, the Authority disclosed concerning numbers. Noida possesses an installed sewage treatment capacity of 411 million liters per day. However, the city only treats 260 MLD, which matches its total wastewater generation.
More critically, just 86 MLD of this treated water gets reused. This represents only 33 percent of the treated volume. The remaining 178 MLD continues to flow into drains, representing a substantial waste of treated water.
NGT's Directives and Authority's Response
The National Green Tribunal registered this case in July 2024. It acted on its own initiative after reviewing media reports about treated sewage discharge into drains instead of productive reuse. The tribunal included several parties as respondents, including the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, the Noida Authority chairman, and the GB Nagar district magistrate.
During a February 2023 hearing, NGT emphasized the economic and environmental value of treated wastewater. The tribunal noted this resource could serve multiple sectors while conserving precious freshwater supplies. Following this observation, NGT directed the Authority to ensure complete utilization of treated water and submit a detailed implementation plan with clear timelines.
The Authority's December affidavit acknowledged previous commitments to utilize 98 MLD of treated water. It admitted falling short of this target. However, the submission notably lacked the comprehensive action plan specifically requested by the tribunal for achieving 100 percent utilization.
Current Reuse Applications and Pipeline Projects
During tribunal proceedings, Authority counsel revealed that approximately one-fifth of treated output currently finds reuse. Primary applications include irrigation of parks, green belts, and wetlands.
The Authority also supplies treated water for construction activities at a subsidized rate of Rs 5 per kiloliter. Several government departments receive this water free of charge upon request, including the fire department, horticulture wing, health department, and for water sprinkling operations.
In May 2023, the Authority informed the tribunal about ongoing pipeline expansion projects. Work connects a Sector 168 sewage treatment plant with several sectors including 83, 85, 88, 91, 135, 136, and 137. This project promises to enable reuse of 20 MLD by December 2025.
Additional pipelines linking the same treatment plant to sectors 150, 151A, and 157 could cover another 22 MLD by the second quarter of 2026. Despite these specific project assurances, the Authority has not presented any city-wide strategy to utilize the remaining 178 MLD of treated water currently going to waste.
The Continuing Challenge of Water Resource Management
The situation highlights ongoing challenges in urban water management. Treated wastewater represents a significant resource that could reduce pressure on freshwater supplies. Noida's current utilization rate of just 33 percent indicates substantial room for improvement.
Environmental experts emphasize that proper wastewater reuse contributes to sustainable urban development. It reduces pollution in water bodies while providing alternative water sources for non-potable applications. The NGT's intervention underscores the legal and environmental importance of maximizing this resource.
As the Authority continues to develop infrastructure projects, the absence of a comprehensive city-wide plan remains a critical gap. Stakeholders await concrete action to transform treated wastewater from a wasted resource into a valuable asset for Noida's development and environmental sustainability.
