WD News: The state government of Goa has prepared an action plan for usage of treated wastewater from sewage treatment plants to reduce the stress on the existing water resources. The plan is to push usage of treated water for various purposes, including agriculture, farm forestry, toilet flushing and industrial and commercial uses.
The government has set a deadline of the next two years to create infrastructure and other facilities for the same.
A senior officer said that the benefit of the plan is it that it will increase water availability, delink water substitution, keep drinking water for drinking and reclaimed water for non-drinking uses (industry, cleaning, irrigation, domestic (uses, toilet flushing), help revenue generation for the state, reduce over-extraction of surface and groundwater, reduce energy consumption associated with production, treatment and distribution of water compared to using deep groundwater resources, water importation or desalination and reduce nutrient load store receiving waters (rivers, canals and other surface water resources).
Other benefits include reducing the manufacturing cost of using high quality reclaimed water, increasing agricultural production, enhancing environmental protection by restoration of streams, wetlands and ponds and increased employment and local economy that is tourism and agriculture.
“Given the background of stress on existing water resources and its distribution, it is very important to look for additional sources of water to supplement the limited fresh water. Thus, it becomes imperative to explore the option of using treated wastewater for various purposes,” a senior officer said.
The officer further stated that in agriculture, treated water from Varkhande is being used for social foresting and the work of laying the pipeline has been completed. Similarly, it can be used for private forests, agriculture, horticulture, area nut farming and so on. “There is provision of a conveyance line from Panaji to ICAR-ELLA at Old Goa,” the officer said.
As per the plan, sewage treatment plants in Vasco, Margao and Ponda can use the water for maintaining public parks and dust control. Industries can use treated water as processing water, cooling water, recirculating cooling towers, washdown water, washing aggregate, making concrete, soil compaction and dust control.
“There are benefits of using recycled water for irrigation, including the lower cost compared to some other sources and consistency of supply regardless of season, climatic conditions and associated water restrictions. When treated wastewater is used for irrigation in agriculture, the nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) content of the treated water has the benefit acting as a fertiliser. This can make the reuse of excreta contained in sewage attractive,” the officer said.
In areas like Vasco around two to three MLD water can be given to Mormugao Port Authority and Zuari Industrial Estate each. Similarly, the water can be supplied to such users to cater to their needs.
Source: Times of India
Image Courtesy: Pixabay
