Residential Training-Onsite Bulk Institutional Sewage Management

India currently treats only about 43 per cent of its wastewater generated each day, says the Central Pollution Control Board (2021); the remaining 57 per cent flows untreated into surface and groundwater systems. This gap is expected to widen as the pace of urbanisation continues to outstrip the expansion of treatment infrastructure. Decentralised sewage treatment plants (STPs) at the level of residential welfare associations (RWAs), commercial complexes and institutions offer a viable pathway to bridge this gap and are increasingly being mandated in cities such as Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Delhi-NCR, Chennai, Guwahati, Hyderabad and Jaipur. Bengaluru, for instance, already manages approximately 13 per cent of its wastewater through decentralised systems

Cities are also recognising the value of treated wastewater as a resource that can substitute freshwater demand across multiple sectors. However, all this remains insufficient given the scale of wastewater generated, indicating significant untapped potential for expansion. Ensuring that all new developments treat and reuse wastewater at source can reduce dependence on freshwater, ease the burden on centralised STPs, and prevent pollution of natural waterbodies. Addressing these gaps requires capacity building and informed decision-making.

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) is organising a four-day training programme on ‘Onsite Bulk Institutional Sewage Management’ to do just that. The programme aims to build awareness and technical understanding among key stakeholders—including policymakers, urban practitioners, researchers, NGOs, technology providers and RWAs—on the opportunities, challenges and available technological options for effective on-site wastewater treatment and reuse.

COURSE CONTEN

• Policy overview
• Status of sewage in India, policy frameworks and standards
• Types of sanitation systems in urban areas
• Treatment stages: primary, secondary, tertiary
• Common onsite and offsite treatment technologies and systems -- costs, O&M and risks
• Understanding the water balance
• System design and technology options: Design parameters, technology comparison, sizing, layout of nature-based systems and mechanical technologies
• Water quality parameters and standards for treatment, reuse and disposal
• Operation, maintenance and troubleshooting
• Reuse of treated water and sludge
• Site visits
  These theoretical and practical modules include interactive sessions with leading experts, presentations on case studies and a visit to successfully implemented treatment systems. The participants will get the opportunity to plan and design onsite systems and decentralised wastewater treatment system as part of the DIY group exercises.

 COURSE COORDINATOR

Swati Bhatia
Deputy Programme Manager
Water Programme, CSE
Mobile: +91 9911339540
Email: swati.bhatia@cseindia.org

OURSE DIRECTOR

Subrata Chakraborty
Director, Water Programme, CSE
Email: subrata.chakraborty@cseindia.org