Context:
• NITI Aayog, in collaboration with Government of Karnataka and BWSSB, organised a two-day National Workshop on 6–7 November 2025 in Bengaluru, under the State Support Mission.
• Participants included policy experts, industry leaders, academia, researchers, UNICEF, Government of Israel (South India), Singapore Water Association, and knowledge partners.
• Purpose → deliberation on challenges, opportunities & innovations to increase treated wastewater reuse for agriculture, domestic non-potable & industrial applications → push circular water economy + contribute to SDGs.
Key Highlights – Emerging Water Crisis & National Need
• In the era of increasing water scarcity → used water reuse must be mainstreamed.
• Treated wastewater reuse = win-win for Viksit Bharat 2047, resource circularity, climate resilience, and water security.
• Priority areas highlighted:
– State-level policies on reuse
– Common enforceable standards for different end-uses
– Integration of reuse for new demand centres like data centres
– Public health risk considerations
– Behaviour change
Key Highlights – Policy Directions & Standards
• Participants stressed → robust state policies by 2030.
• Need for common standards for multiple end-use applications.
• Need for grid infrastructure for treated wastewater → like power/water networks.
• Need for real-time quality monitoring → public health imperatives.
• Capacity building within utilities = necessary for implementation.
• Need for low-cost technologies & sustainable O&M frameworks for decentralised systems.
Key Highlights – Best Practice Presentations
• Gujarat → scalable reuse models
• Delhi → revenue generating reuse systems
• Indore → multi-sectoral reuse diffusion
• Karnataka → integrated rural-industrial reuse systems
• Tamil Nadu → tertiary-treated water for industry
• Maharashtra → technology-enabled greywater solutions
• International / Private sector → collaborative business models, innovative financing, technology partnerships.
Key Highlights – Karnataka’s 2024 Crisis Case
• Karnataka used the 2024 water crisis to scale reuse → lake rejuvenation + meeting industrial water demand.
• Call to participants to bring strategic ideas to expand national/state-level reuse potential.
Key Highlights – Field Visit
• On 7 November 2025, participants visited:
– K&C Valley STP
– Cubbon Park Treatment Plant
• Saw advanced systems for treatment and reuse.
Relevant Mains Points (Detailed)
• Treated wastewater reuse = critical for water circularity, urban resilience, industrial decoupling from freshwater, and SDG 6 (Clean Water & Sanitation).
• Data-centres, industrial clusters, construction sector = major future demand sinks for treated wastewater.
• Reuse policy must integrate:
– fit-for-purpose quality standards
– grid-based reuse distribution
– viability-gap financing & PPPs
– cost-effective decentralised STPs
• Way Forward:
– national reuse standards harmonised across BIS/CPHEEO
– utilities capacity building + tariff rationalisation
– digital flow monitoring + IoT quality surveillance
– behavioural campaigns to build social acceptance of reuse
UPSC Relevance:
• GS-3 → Environment; circular economy; climate resilience; urban water security
• GS-2 → federal cooperation; SDG governance; NITI Aayog as reform catalyst