In today’s world, where clean water is becoming increasingly scarce, the consequences of untreated wastewater have never been more urgent. Across India, rapid urbanization, industrial expansion, and outdated infrastructure are pushing our water systems to the brink.

According to the Press Information Bureau and India Spend article, India generates approximately 72,368 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage. Alarmingly, only about 28% of this wastewater undergoes treatment, leaving the majority to contaminate rivers, lakes, and groundwater sources. This untreated sewage is a primary contributor to water pollution, leading to the degradation of aquatic ecosystems and posing severe health risks to communities relying on these water sources.

The disparity in treatment capacities across states further complicates the issue. For instance, Andhra Pradesh treats only 15% of its daily sewage, while Karnataka manages to treat around 43%. Such variations highlight the need for a more uniform and robust approach to wastewater management across the country. Such variations highlight the need for a more uniform and robust approach to wastewater treatment in India.

What Happens When Wastewater Goes Untreated?

Every drop of untreated sewage can carry thousands of harmful pathogens, chemicals, and pollutants. When discharged into the environment:

• Contamination of Drinking Water Sources: Untreated sewage contaminates rivers and groundwater, leading to waterborne diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and typhoid.
  
• Depletion of Oxygen Levels in Water Bodies: The organic matter in sewage consumes dissolved oxygen during decomposition, leading to hypoxic conditions that can kill aquatic life.
  
• Disruption of the Natural Water Cycle: Polluted water bodies affect agriculture by contaminating irrigation sources and hinder groundwater recharge.
  
• Contribution to Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The decomposition of organic waste in anaerobic conditions produces methane and nitrous oxide, potent greenhouse gases that exacerbate climate change.
  

According to the Central Pollution Control Board, 63.5% of India’s sewage remains untreated, making it a leading cause of river pollution, especially in urban centres like Delhi, Bengaluru, and Kolkata. This brings to light the growing importance of efficient Wastewater treatment as an environmental and public health priority.

The Case for Advanced Wastewater Treatment

Basic sewage treatment is no longer sufficient. With water scarcity and climate risks on the rise, cities and industries must adopt advanced wastewater treatment solutions technologies that not only remove contaminants but also recover water, energy, and nutrients.

What Sets These Technologies Apart?

• Higher Efficiency: Advanced systems like Sequencing Batch Reactors (SBRs), Membrane Bioreactors (MBRs), and C-Tech systems can remove a broader range of pollutants, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and emerging contaminants.
  
• Energy Recovery: These technologies can convert organic waste into biogas, supporting a circular energy economy and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
  
• Reuse-Ready: The treated water from these systems can be reused for agriculture, industrial cooling, and even urban sanitation, reducing the demand for freshwater sources.
  

For example, as per Bangalore Mirror, Bengaluru treats around 63% of its wastewater through centralized wastewater treatment plants, yet much of the treated water remains underutilized, indicating the need for better integration of reuse strategies.

Why Wastewater Treatment in India Needs an Upgrade

Despite progress, the gap between how much sewage is generated and how much is treated continues to widen. There are several reasons driving the urgent need for improved Wastewater Treatment in the Indian context:

• Urban Population Boom: Niti Ayog states that by 2030, nearly 40% of Indians will reside in urban areas, rapidly increasing the volume of wastewater generated and burdening existing treatment infrastructure.
  
• Water Scarcity: With groundwater reserves depleting across major cities, tapping into treated wastewater offers a sustainable and non-conventional water source.
  
• Policy and Regulatory Push: Initiatives such as AMRUT and the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) are actively encouraging cities to upgrade their Wastewater Treatment capabilities. Under AMRUT 2.0, 592 sewerage and septage projects worth ₹67,607.67 crore have been approved, targeting the creation of 6,739 MLD in new treatment capacity.
  
• Public Health Demands: Effective wastewater management is essential to curbing the spread of waterborne illnesses—especially in densely populated urban slums and peri-urban areas.
  

As the government moves toward goals like 100% sewage treatment along the Ganga by 2030 as mentioned in PIB, there’s a clear recognition that Advanced Wastewater Treatment Solutions are vital to achieving sustainable and equitable urban growth.

A New View: Wastewater as a Resource

The shift in perception from seeing wastewater as waste to viewing it as a resource is transforming the way we manage it.

• Agriculture: Treated wastewater is now used for precision irrigation and aquaponics, providing a reliable water source for farmers and reducing dependence on freshwater.
  
• Industry: Recycled water powers cooling systems in industries, reducing freshwater demand and promoting sustainable practices.
  
• Construction: Reclaimed water is used for concrete curing and dust suppression, conserving potable water for essential uses.
  

These applications underscore the potential of wastewater treatment to not only protect the environment but also create economic value.

Conclusion: The Time to Act Is Now

The environmental cost of inaction is high—but the opportunity to reverse the damage is even greater. With rising urban demand, climate risks, and freshwater stress, wastewater must be seen as more than waste—it must be treated as a resource.

Cities, industries, and institutions must elevate wastewater treatment from a basic utility function to a central pillar of sustainable development. Investing in advanced wastewater treatment solutions will be key to improving public health, reducing pollution, and supporting India’s long-term water security.

At this critical juncture, solution providers like SFC Environmental Technologies are playing a vital role. With decades of experience and cutting-edge waste water treatment technology, SFC has helped transform how Indian cities, industries, and communities manage their water. The company’s flagship C-Tech system is designed to deliver high-quality treated water while being energy-efficient, compact, and scalable.

Because when water is managed responsibly, it doesn’t just sustain life—it sustains the future.