India's sewage waters have the potential to annually irrigate approximately 1.5 million hectares of land and contribute about one million tonnes of nutrients and 130 million man-days of employment. However, the current challenges associated with wastewater reuse stem from the lack of treatment and concerns about public health when utilizing untreated wastewater. Despite these issues, untreated or partially treated wastewater is commonly used for irrigation purposes due to its consistent availability. The research in this study aims to identify legal and technical solutions that can address these challenges while safeguarding the livelihoods of those dependent on wastewater and preserving natural resources.
Through our case studies, we observed that the Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) in certain cities discharge semi-treated water, while others release untreated water into drains, ultimately leading to river contamination. Downstream farmers utilize this water regardless of its treatment status. One potential intervention that could enhance efficiency is the separation of industrial and domestic waste at the source, increasing the value of resources and enabling the direct supply of domestic wastewater to farmers. This wastewater can then be treated for safe use at the farm level.
The methodology employed in this study involved tracking the waste disposed of at the Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), conducting focused group discussions with villages utilizing this water, and analyzing satellite images to identify irrigated areas within cropped regions. The study also examined the revenue of farmers utilizing freshwater versus those using wastewater.
Learn more about this project here.
Team
Tools
ArcGIS, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere, Microsoft Office, Sketchup, VRAY
