Sewage treatment plants in the city: Falling water standards | Story of every summer season
The summer season strikes and there is news flashing everywhere about how scarce has drinking water become. It has been a continuous debate for quite some years now on how people must save water, how clean drinking water is becoming scarce by every passing year, how we must harvest water and aim for water treatment. There have been endless debates, discussions, action plans and to add to the list maybe a couple few more.
What has been the outcome? It comes down to nothing of much substance. The situation of water, its treatment, sewage, harvesting etc. come down to nothing substantial.
State governments have been in the clutch of this now. After campaigning about water saving and sustainability, the government has failed in maintaining standards for the sewage treatment plants run under its supervision.
It has been found out that merely two sewage treatment plants are meeting all the norms and standards for water treatment and are in a functional state.
Jaipur Development Authority and Jaipur Municipal Corporation in the non-attendance of sewage treatment plants, are utilising ground water for watering plants and landscaping. Central Park is one place where Jaipur Development Authority is using groundwater for maintaining the garden.
Scrutinising the sewage treatment plants:
The scrutiny of seven sewage treatment plants was carried on by the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board. It was revealed in the study that five out of these seven sewage treatment plants are not treating and cleaning water as per the laid guidelines and norms.
As per laid norms, water that is released after treatment must contain 30 milligram per litre of biomedical oxygen demand (BOD).
It was noted that biomedical oxygen demand was more than the set limit in five sewage treatment plants. The situation was distressing in two sewage treatment plants which were supervised by Jaipur Municipal Corporation (Jaipur Municipal Corporation).
Statistics:
- “Biomedical oxygen demand found in one of the sewage treatment plants at Delawas was 79 which is more than double than the appropriate limit. The other unit recorded biomedical oxygen demand of nearly 99, “ stated an official.
- Jaisinghpura Khor where a sewage treatment plant is installed and which is also supervised by the Jaipur Municipal Corporation recorded an appalling biomedical oxygen demand.
- Similarly, the Jaipur Development Authority also supervised a sewage treatment plant which having a capacity of 30 million litres per day and situated at Kalwar Road failed in the test.
- Ralawata, a place where another sewage treatment plant is installed 1 MLD unit at Jawahar Circle were the only two plants where biomedical oxygen demand was found under the prescribed limit.
- An action has been taken against the Brahmpuri sewage treatment plant and the one at Jaisinghpura Khor by the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board for the plants that are not working as per their installed capacity, thereby, causing damage to the environment.
According to the officials, if sewerage water is not treated properly and discharged into the water bodies, it then pollutes the groundwater resources.
Jaipur discharges near about 370 MLD of sewerage. However, the combined volume of all sewage treatment plants to treat waste water is just 265 MLD.
“Civic bodies lack any seriousness to treat sewage water. To meet the demand, work order for a sewage treatment plant has been sanctioned by the Jaipur Development Authority which is of one MLD capacity and will be set up at Bais Godam, “ stated the official.
