Is India failing to treat its wastewater, and what can it do?

India faces several complex challenges in addressing the issue of sewage overload in the Ganga and other waterways.

By ArchitaKedia 29 Apr 2023

New Update

The Ganga, also known as the Ganges, is considered to be a sacred river in India. But, it has been plagued by pollution for decades. Despite numerous efforts to clean up the river, including the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and the Namami Gange program, the river remains polluted. One of the main reasons is the sewage overload in the river.

The challenge of sewage overload in India's Waterbodies

The sewage overload occurs when untreated or partially treated sewage is released into the river. This sewage contains a variety of pollutants, including bacteria, viruses, and chemicals. When these pollutants enter the river, they can harm the environment and the health of people and animals that rely on the river.

India faces several complex challenges in addressing the issue of sewage overload in the Ganga and other waterways. Inadequate infrastructure for wastewater treatment, lack of enforcement of environmental regulations, rapid urbanization, population growth, and political and economic obstacles all contribute to the problem. To effectively address sewage overload, governments, industries, and individuals must work together to invest in infrastructure; enforce regulations, and change attitudes and behaviors around environmental responsibility.

Technologies for wastewater treatment

To address the challenge of sewage overload, sustainable investments in environmentally friendly technologies are essential. Such investments not only help reduce pollution but also create opportunities for economic growth and job creation. Sustainable investments can also help meet the growing demand for environmental responsibility and sustainability in businesses and governments. For example, there are a variety of wastewater treatment technologies that can be used to treat sewage before it is released into the river.

One example of sustainable technology for wastewater treatment is the use of constructed wetlands. These are man-made systems that mimic the natural processes that occur in wetlands. They are designed to treat wastewater by using plants and other natural materials to filter out pollutants. Constructed wetlands can be used to treat sewage from small communities or individual households, as well as larger industrial and municipal sources.

Another example is modern sewage treatment plants that use advanced technologies to treat wastewater and remove pollutants before it is released into waterways. Many of these plants also generate electricity from the biogas that is produced during the treatment process. This can help offset the costs of operating the plant.

India had a total of over five million biogas plants. Maharashtra with 931,000 biogas plants stands at number 1 while Karnataka with 512,000 biogas plants is at the second place. pic.twitter.com/vu9o9vpRyG
— Zulfiqar Ahmed 🤔 (@ZulfiqarAhmed69) February 17, 2023

Conclusion

The investments in sustainable solutions for wastewater treatment will help reduce pollution in the Ganga and other rivers. Furthermore, it will also bring significant economic benefits. It can create new jobs and stimulate economic growth. At the same time, reduce the cost of water treatment and disposal. Not only this, sustainable solutions can help improve the health and well-being of people and animals that rely on waterways for drinking water, fishing, and agriculture.

Investing in sustainable solutions for wastewater treatment is not only essential for protecting the environment and public health. But it is also a smart financial decision. By prioritizing sustainability, businesses and governments can create a cleaner and more sustainable future. With this, they can potentially earn a return on their investments. As the demand for environmental responsibility grows, sustainable investments in wastewater treatment will become increasingly important for the well-being of our planet and future generations.