Mumbai: The BMC plans to lay a pipeline from the Ghatkopar wastewater treatment plant to the HPCL and BPCL units at Mahul for supplying 100 MLD of non-potable water to meet their non-potable requirements. The civic body is currently constructing sewage treatment plants (STP) at seven locations across the city, which are in various stages with physical progress ranging from 28 percent to 51 percent. These will be completed between 2026 and 2028 under the Mumbai Sewage Disposal project. These plants together will treat a total of 2,464 MLD of sewage and generate about 1,232 MLD of non-potable water, which will be made available to establishments and citizens. Currently, the BMC is supplying the Navy with non-potable water at a minimal Rs 1 per kilolitre, while it is supplying the Willingdon Club at Rs 20 per kilolitre.“We are carrying out a feasibility study regarding the laying of a 15-kilometre pipeline to the units of the oil companies, and the feasibility report is expected within three months. Following this, we intend to float tenders and start laying the pipeline by the end of this year. The oil companies are using seawater for cooling in the processing units, which is causing damage to their equipment. Therefore, they want to use non-potable water for the same,” said a BMC official.According to the BMC, the projects will enable the treatment of a total of 2,464 million litres of sewage daily. The new sewage treatment plants, which include a 500 MLD plant at Worli, a 360 MLD plant at Bandra, a 454 MLD plant at Malad, a 337 MLD plant at Ghatkopar, a 418 MLD plant at Dharavi, a 215 MLD plant at Bhandup, and a 180 MLD plant at Versova, will enhance seawater quality and marine life. Tertiary treatment will be carried out along with primary and secondary treatments at these plants. Additionally, electricity will be generated from the biogas produced, and the sludge will undergo Class A sludge treatment.During a media interaction on Tuesday, BMC Deputy Municipal Commissioner Rajesh Tamhane pointed out that 50 percent of sewage will undergo tertiary treatment, which will be used for non-potable purposes, while the rest of the sewage will undergo secondary treatment and will be discharged into the sea. The STP plants are also generating power to partially meet the power requirements of running the plant. The Bandra wastewater treatment facility is expected to generate 4 MW of power, while the plant requires about 16 MW for its operations.The civic body has pointed out that these sewage treatment plants will benefit the population in areas such as Fort, Byculla, Pedder Road, Gowalia Tank, Haji Ali, Prabhadevi, Dadar, Worli, Mahim, Bandra, Kherwadi, Bandra-Kurla Complex, Santacruz, Matunga, Wadala, Sion-Koliwada, Andheri East, Versova, Andheri West, Vile Parle East, Juhu, Vile Parle West, Oshiwara, Dahisar, Borivali, Kandivali, Malad, Goregaon, Ghatkopar, Mankhurd, Govandi, Chembur, Bhandup, Vikhroli, Kanjurmarg, and Mulund, among others.
