IASEXAM-Congress

Arresting India’s Water Crisis

Introduction:

● 600 million people in India face acute water shortages, with almost 200,000 losing
their lives due to lack of access to safe water.
● More than 12 percent of India's population are living the "Day Zero" scenario, with no
access to clean water within or near their homes.

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● Highlighting India's somber water situation including the statistics on the number of
people facing acute water shortages and water-related deaths in India.
● Impact of COVID-19 on water crisis with increased domestic water demand due to
hygiene awareness.
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Projected Water Demand and Shortage:
● Projected water demand exceeds supply by 50% by 2030, leading to potential GDP
loss.
● Industries, including agriculture, heavily dependent on water, would be adversely
affected.
● The importance of addressing the water crisis to safeguard the economy and
livelihoods.
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Water Shortage and Inequalities:

● Water scarcity exacerbates existing rural-urban and gender-based inequalities in
India.
● Women in India are disproportionately affected by water scarcity and spend a
significant amount of time collecting water. They collectively spend around 150
million days annually on this task.
● The burden of water collection falls heavily on women, impacting their ability to
participate in other economic activities and affecting their incomes.

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● The distribution of water supply systems is uneven, with urban areas having better
access to tap water compared to rural areas.
● In urban areas, approximately 52 percent of households have access to tap water,
whereas in rural areas, only around 18 percent of households have such access.
● The disparity in access to water resources between urban and rural areas further
widens the gap in living conditions and economic opportunities.

India's Freshwater Resources:

● India's limited share of global freshwater resources despite a large population.
● Over Reliance on groundwater, making India the world's largest consumer of

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groundwater.

Potential of Wastewater:
● Wastewater has significant potential as a water source if it is properly treated and
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● Reusing treated wastewater can help meet a considerable portion of industrial and
agricultural water demand.
● If India reuses 80 percent of its untreated wastewater from 110 major cities, it can
meet 75 percent of projected industrial water demand by 2025.
● Currently, only 33 percent of India's urban wastewater is treated, and the percentage
of reused wastewater is even smaller.
● Reusing treated wastewater offers several benefits for industrial and agricultural
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sectors, including reducing reliance on freshwater sources, conserving water

resources, and promoting sustainable water management practices.
● Countries with higher wastewater treatment and reuse rates serve as examples of
successful wastewater management, highlighting the potential for improvement in
India's approach to wastewater utilization.

Challenges for Private Sector Investment:

● High capital costs and long breakeven periods deter private players from entering
the market.
● Lack of clear regulations on user charges for wastewater treatment.

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● Delayed or non-payment of contractually agreed annuities by government agencies.

● Inadequate supply of raw/secondary-treated sewage affecting operational efficiency.

Government Initiatives

● The Indian government shifted its focus to solid waste, sludge and greywater
management under the Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0.
● Cities must satisfy three criteria to be declared Water+ (the highest rating): 100% of
domestic, industrial and commercial wastewater must be treated, there should be

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adequate capacity to treat wastewater and sewage, and infrastructure should be
properly maintained.

The Economic Case for Wastewater Supply

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● Modern wastewater treatment plants (WTPs) are capital-intensive and require the
use of innovative technology.
● Countries which have transformed wastewater treatment into a business
● opportunity succeeded by leveraging the public-private partnership (PPP) model.

International Examples - Israel and Singapore:

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● Israel's integrated water authority and financial framework to encourage wastewater

treatment.
● Subsidies for wastewater treatment plants and farmer price subsidies for treated
water.
● Singapore's circular reuse system uses NEWater for 40% of water demand.
● Revenue risk borne by the national water authority to attract private investment.

Successful Indian Examples - Hindustan Zinc STP and Thane Belapur CETPs:
● Hindustan Zinc's PPP with Udaipur Municipal Corporation to treat domestic
sewage.

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● Successful water diversification through treated wastewater for industrial operations.

● Thane Belapur CETPs offer affordable treatment options to small industries.

Way Forward: Incentivising PPPs in the wastewater sector

● Clear targets for wastewater reuse to create demand. Establishing a predictable
water tariff regime.
● Innovative financing options.
● Sector-specific model concession agreements. Harnessing technological
advancements.
● Soft interventions such as public awareness campaigns and capacity-building

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programmes

Conclusion:
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● Avoiding a day-zero scenario in major Indian cities requires urgent and dedicated
effort from governments, municipal agencies, the private sector, and citizens.
● The experience of the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for more
environmentally sustainable economic pathways.
● Emphasizing the need to address the water crisis for a sustainable future.
● Leveraging treated water markets to maximize circular use of freshwater.
● Highlighting Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 as an opportunity to achieve water+ cities.
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Compiled by @rishyjee for IASEC

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India's Water Management Efforts

India's Water Challenges:

● India, with 18% of the world's population, has only 4% of its water resources,
making it water-stressed.
● High to extreme water stress faced by many Indians, worsened by erratic monsoons
and climate change.

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● The World Bank supports the Atal Bhujal Yojana and other initiatives to address
water challenges.
● Projects focus on groundwater conservation, rural and urban water supply, flood
management, and more.
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● Efforts made to bring clean drinking water to rural areas and provide continuous
piped water in urban regions.
● Chennai recycles wastewater to meet non-drinking water needs, and Ganga
rejuvenation is a priority.
● Investments made in irrigation facilities and hydrology projects to tackle water
scarcity and disasters
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Groundwater Conservation:

Atal Bhujal Yojana:

● India's largest community-led groundwater management program.
● Implemented in 8,220 gram panchayats across 7 states.
● Aims to improve rural livelihoods and build resilience against groundwater depletion.
● Villagers understand water availability and usage patterns to budget water use.
● Punjab's "Paani Bachao, Paisa Kamao" scheme incentivizes farmers to save
groundwater.

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Rural Drinking Water Projects:

● The World Bank supports efforts to provide clean drinking water to rural
communities.
● Uttarakhand Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project benefitted 1.57 million
people.
● Jalanidhi I and II in Kerala brought piped water to village homes.
● Subsidized tariff for "lifeline consumption" ensures affordability.

Continuous Piped Water Supply in Urban Areas:

● Karnataka Water Supply Improvement Project pilot 24/7 water supply in three cities.

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● Shimla Water Supply and Sewerage Service Delivery Reform Project improved water
availability.
● Punjab Municipal Services Improvement Project shifts to surface water sources.
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Wastewater Recycling:
● Chennai recycles wastewater at scale for non-drinking water needs.
● Two Tertiary Treatment Reverse Osmosis (TTRO) plants recycle 20% of sewage.

Rejuvenation of River Ganga:

● The World Bank supports Ganga rejuvenation with projects worth $1 billion.
● Sewage treatment plants and drains reduce organic pollution in the Ganga.
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Irrigation Management and Flood Mitigation:

● World Bank projects improve irrigation facilities for rainfed agriculture.
● Major Irrigation and Flood Management Project benefits 2.7 million farmers.

Tracking Floods and Droughts:

● World Bank-supported hydrology projects introduce systems for reservoir
management.
● Comprehensive knowledge base for water resource management in the country.

Compiled by @rishyjee for IASEC

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