From wastewater to crop water: How technology is rewriting India’s irrigation storyIndia stands at a critical juncture in its water management...
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network
India stands at a critical juncture in its water management journey. With agriculture consuming nearly 80–85 per cent of the country’s freshwater, the pressure on groundwater and surface resources has never been greater. At the same time, rapid urbanisation and industrial expansion are widening the gap between freshwater demand and supply, while also generating large volumes of wastewater. Climate variability exacerbates the stress by disrupting availability and reliability. The water demand is further expected to increase, requiring innovative solutions to meet it.
At this point, it is crucial to understand that the solution does not lie in looking for new water but in creating new water, a shift that is being enabled by next-generation wastewater treatment and re-use technologies.
Countries worldwide facing acute water scarcity have already demonstrated that treated wastewater can be used to meet a significant share of agricultural demand. India is now stepping up efforts in this direction, and the early signs are quite promising. A report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) revealed that India generates over 72,000 MLD of wastewater, of which barely 28 per cent is treated. Even a 20 per cent increase in treated and re-used water can unlock billions of litres of irrigation potential, which is enough to bring large tracts of semi-arid land under assured cultivation.
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https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/from-wastewater-to-crop-water-how-technology-is-rewriting-indias-irrigation-story/article70335405.eceTaxonomy
- Wastewater Use
- Pollution
- India
- Water and Wastewater
- Water and wastewater treatment
- Domestic Water Use
- India