Indian industrial hub plans to mandate grey water reuse

Two towns in the Indian state of Maharashtra have put forth some of the region's most aggressive water policies, approving a resolution to require the use of recycled waste water for all activities except drinking.

The rule would apply to buildings located on plots of at least 4,000 square meters, or about 1 acre.

The resolution comes from the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corp., the joint governing body of the towns of Pimpri and Chinchwad, which are located in the Pune district of Maharashtra. Public hearings are planned during the next month. Then, the proposal is then expected to be sent to the state government for approval, a process that is expected to take a few months.

Pimpri-Chinchwad is known as a major industrial hub, with major automakers including Daimler and Tata Motors calling it home.

The requirement would apply to housing complexes, new buildings, reconstructions and additions that meet the 4,000 square-meter minimum. The resolution applies in non-congested areas.

The resolution calls for the mandatory recycling of water from sinks and bathrooms, but not toilets. The water must then be re-used for gardening, toilets, or other methods—but not drinking. There's currently no existing provision for the re-use of waste water in Pimpri-Chinchwad.

The government suggested the use of settling tanks, chemical disinfection, or filters. The government has proposed a noncompliance fine of Rs 1,000 per 100 square meters of built area ($20 per 1,000 square feet) each year.

The government is also making its own plans to ease the strains on the water system caused by a rapidly increasing population. Pimpri-Chinchwad expects to recycle water from its sewage treatment plants for industrial use.

The government currently provides 320 million liters (84.5 million U.S. gallons) per day of water to the population of 1.5 million, but there are projections that a population of 2.9 million will demand 505 million liters per day by 2021.