The Gujarat government is set to implement the central government's Liquid Waste Management Rules, 2024, aimed at addressing wastewater management challenges in residential societies, urban areas, and industries. Residential societies using over 5,000 litres of water daily or exceeding certain pollution thresholds will be classified as bulk users and required to register with the CPCB. Key provisions include extended user responsibility (EUR) for wastewater treatment and reuse, with specific recycling targets for both new and existing societies. Industries, particularly in sectors like textiles, are also required to meet wastewater reuse targets. Stakeholders highlight the need for government support to meet these ambitious goals.
In the coming months, the state government is poised to implement the central government's draft Liquid Waste Management Rules, 2024. These rules are designed to tackle the escalating challenges of wastewater management in residential societies, urban local bodies, and industrial zones. The new regulations will have a major impact on both existing and newly built residential societies, as they impose stricter requirements for the treatment and reuse of wastewater.
The new rules classify residential societies as bulk water users if their daily water consumption exceeds 5,000 litres or if their pollution load surpasses 10kg of biological oxygen demand (BOD) per day. This will apply to most apartment complexes. Such societies will be required to register on a centralised platform managed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
A key feature of the new regulations is the introduction of extended user responsibility (EUR), which holds bulk users accountable for treating and reusing the wastewater they produce. A senior official from the urban development department explained that the rules include stringent reporting requirements, obligating societies to submit monthly and annual data on their water consumption, wastewater generation, treatment, reuse, and discharge through an online portal.
Starting in April 2027, new residential societies will be mandated to recycle 20% of their total water consumption, with the requirement increasing to 50% by April 2030. Existing societies will have lower targets, beginning with 10% in 2027-28 and rising to 25% from 2030-31. These targets are designed to encourage sustainable water management practices within residential communities. The official further clarified that societies will not be allowed to engage in wastewater management activities with any entity that is not registered under the new regulations.
The rule for industries specifies that they must meet specific wastewater reuse targets, determined as a percentage of their total freshwater consumption. For instance, an industrial unit using 100,000 litres of freshwater per day will be required to reuse at least 60,000 litres of treated wastewater by 2027-28. The senior official from the urban development department explained that these rules are especially relevant to sectors such as thermal power plants, the pulp and paper industry, and the textile industry, which are crucial for the implementation of wastewater reuse initiatives.
The implementation of the Liquid Waste Management Rules, 2024, marks a significant step towards improving wastewater management and promoting sustainability in both residential and industrial sectors. As the regulations set higher standards for water recycling and treatment, they aim to encourage responsible water usage across communities and industries. However, while the rules are progressive, stakeholders, particularly in water-intensive industries like textiles, are calling for greater government support to meet the ambitious targets. The success of these initiatives will depend not only on stringent enforcement but also on adequate infrastructure and cooperation from all sectors involved.
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