BMC to tap into waste water to generate ‘revenue stream’

Mumbai: In a move aimed at bringing about a sustainable solution while simultaneously raising a revenue stream for the city, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has decided to make the best of its waste water. The civic standing committee on Wednesday gave nod to sell 3 million litres per day (MLD) of treated wastewater from its Colaba Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at a concessional rate to private entities for construction and other purposes. This water is currently discharged into the sea due to lack of demand.The move proposes to sell the treated water at a concessional rate of Rs 15 per 1,000 liters to a self-help group, which will supply the water to L&T for the Orange Gate tunnel project, as well to a construction project and gardens. The move, however, is facing opposition from some standing committee members who recommend the civic body use treated water for its own purposes, such as cleaning tourist areas, fire brigade, watering gardens and bus depots. While the STP plant has a treatment capacity of 37 MLD, it has a facility to provide tertiary treatment to 10 MLD of sewage water. The cost of tertiary treatment is Rs 12 per kilolitre. The civic administration said three to four million litres is currently being discharged into the sea because of lack of demand, besides, non-potable water is being supplied by private parties in the city at a price between Rs 15-18. The treated water can be used for a variety of non-potable purposes, including construction, landscaping, gardens, as well as for cleaning purposes. The civic administration said selling treated water for non-potable use would generate revenue for the municipal corporation, thereby allowing for partial recovery of both the capital expenditure incurred for the Colaba STP and the recurring costs associated with operation and maintenance of the plant, besides, enabling conservation of fresh water.Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Shailesh Phanse said the purpose should be to save drinking water and use treated water for purposes like road washing, besides supplying it to the fire brigade, bus depots and buildings for their fire fighting systems. MIM corporator Zameer Qureishi questioned the need to sell water to private firms and said that the civic body should use it for their own purposes. Currently, about 1 MLD of treated water is being supplied to the Indian Navy.