Kolkata: The state urban development and municipal affairs department has prepared a draft of the West Bengal state policy on safe reuse of treated wastewater, with the objective of promoting safe and sustainable reuse of treated wastewater.The draft mentions that residential housing units constructed after obtaining environmental clearance must ensure reuse of treated wastewater as much as possible for non-potable use, and that reuse of treated wastewater was encouraged for multistoried buildings, gated communities, public buildings, commercial establishments, hotels, airports and major railway stations. All stakeholders, experts, and institutions were requested to submit their suggestions on the draft policy within the next 30 days.
The draft recommends preparing a database and a management information system utilising a GIS platform for regular assessment of water demand, wastewater generation and reuse of treated wastewater in several sectors, and mapping the requirement and location of the treatment plants.According to the draft, a target has been set to reuse at least 20% of treated wastewater for non-potable use in different sectors such as industry, power generation, agriculture and housing by 2030. The draft suggested imposing a user charge on treated wastewater use and also commercialising the use of treated water for revenue generation.WBPCB will also monitor emerging contaminants and heavy metals in treated municipal wastewater.
