The Used Water Debacle

 A few years ago I did a study for the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) on the status of Water management in the city of Jaipur (https://lnkd.in/dqwkV4yM

). On the basis of data collected I had shown that centralised water management in the city was both economically unviable and ecologically unsustainable. I had also said that the beautification project on the Dravyavati River passing through the city was ill conceived and would fail in the long run because the plan for intercepting drains emptying into the river and treating the used water in them through STPs would not work. The main problem was that the Jaipur Municipal Corporation did not have the funds to operate the STPs and the centralised water supply. While water supply being crucial is somehow fulfilled to some extent, used water treatment is given a go by.
I had also said that the only solution was to implement building level rainwater harvesting/recharge and used water treatment and reuse.
I find now on a visit to Jaipur that all my dark predictions have unfortunately come true.
The biggest STP at Delawas of 215 MLD capacity is dysfunctional and is releasing the sewage water untreated into the Dravyavati River. The smaller STPs along the river built to treat the used water from the intercepted drains are also dysfunctional. Consequently, the Dravyavati River is not only stinking to high heaven but is also emitting the green house gas methane in large quantities.

What I found most disconcerting was that a totally irrational method of disposal of used water is being implemented in individual buildings. Small wells called kuis of 1m diamter are dug to about 10m depth and concrete rings with a few small holes are put in them. The untreated used water is emptied into them.

 These wells fill up very soon and then they are emptied by desludging tankers which then empty their tanks in the Dravyavati River or some drain that empties into it.

To add insult to injury, farmers downstream are using this highly polluted water of the Dravyavati River to produce food crops.

There is something seriously wrong with water management in this country, especially in our cities and towns and despite clear guidelines in the rules and laws for implementation of building level water management, the folly of centralised water management is persisted with.