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Views: 222 Author: Carie Publish Time: 2025-04-02 Origin: Site
Content Menu
● The Basics of Sewage Treatment Plants
● Technologies Used in Indian Sewage Treatment Plants
>> Activated Sludge Process (ASP)
>> Sequencing Batch Reactors (SBRs)
>> Moving Bed Biofilm Reactors (MBBRs)
>> Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) Technology
● Notable Sewage Treatment Plants in India
>> Coronation Pillar STP, Delhi
● Challenges in Sewage Treatment
>> Low Coverage
● Advancements in Sewage Treatment in India
● FAQ
>> 1. What are the main stages of sewage treatment?
>> 2. Why does India need advanced sewage treatment technologies?
>> 3. How does sludge management affect sewage treatment plants?
>> 4. Which Indian cities have upgraded their STPs recently?
>> 5. How can treated wastewater be reused?
● Citation
Sewage treatment plants (STPs) are vital for managing wastewater and protecting water resources in India. With rapid urbanization and industrial growth, the country generates approximately 72,368 million liters of sewage daily, but only 28% of it is treated. This article explores the operation of STPs, technologies used, challenges faced, and advancements made in India.
Sewage treatment involves removing contaminants from wastewater to produce safe effluent that can be discharged into water bodies or reused. It employs physical, chemical, and biological processes to purify water[6].
1. Primary Treatment: Removes floating debris and insoluble impurities using screening and sedimentation tanks.
2. Secondary Treatment: Biological processes break down organic matter using microbes, followed by sludge separation.
3. Tertiary Treatment: Advanced filtration and disinfection methods like chlorination or UV light ensure high-quality effluent[5][6].
ASP is one of the oldest methods used in India but has limitations due to input fluctuations and outdated infrastructure. It achieves a treatment efficiency of around 65% but requires significant maintenance[1][5].
SBR technology treats wastewater in batches, offering flexibility and efficiency (80-90%). It is widely adopted in states like Telangana, Maharashtra, and Bihar for upgrades[1][5]. SBR systems allow precise control over parameters like nitrogen and phosphorus removal while reducing construction costs[1].
MBBRs use biofilm carriers for enhanced biological treatment. They are compact, efficient, and suitable for urban areas with space constraints[1].
MBR combines biological treatment with membrane filtration to produce high-quality effluent suitable for reuse. While effective, it has high capital costs and requires regular maintenance[5].
This method treats sludge to produce biogas, addressing India's challenge of sludge management. It ensures compliance with environmental standards[2][4].
- Capacity: 14,000 m3/day
- Technology: SBR
- Objective: Cleaning the Ganges River under the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)[2].
- Capacity: 318 MLD
- Technology: Advanced phosphate and nitrogen removal facilities
- Impact: Reducing pollution in the Yamuna River[3].
- Technology: SBRs for efficient treatment
- Impact: Improved effluent quality discharged into Durgam Cheruvu Lake[1][5].
- Technologies: SBRs across seven locations
- Capacity: 454 MLD combined
- Monitoring ensures high performance[1].
Only 28% of sewage is treated due to insufficient infrastructure. India needs over 4,500 STPs to handle its growing sewage generation[1][4].
Proper sludge treatment is often neglected, leading to environmental hazards. Sludge can be repurposed as manure or biogas if managed effectively[2][4].
Many STPs still rely on inefficient systems like ASP that fail to meet stringent discharge standards set by the National Green Tribunal (NGT)[1][4].
The high costs associated with advanced technologies hinder widespread adoption across cities and rural areas[5].
India has made significant progress:
- Over 800 STPs built since 2019 with stricter discharge limits upheld by the Supreme Court.
- Adoption of circular economy principles for wastewater reuse and biosolid management.
- Upgrades to modern technologies like SBRs and MBBRs across multiple states[1][2].
Sewage treatment plants are essential for addressing India's water pollution crisis. Despite challenges like low coverage and outdated systems, advancements such as SBRs and MBBRs are paving the way for efficient wastewater management. Continued investment in technology upgrades and sludge management will ensure sustainable sanitation solutions.
Primary treatment removes debris; secondary treatment uses microbes for organic matter breakdown; tertiary treatment filters and disinfects water[5][6].
Outdated systems have low efficiency (65%), while modern technologies like SBRs achieve up to 90% efficiency, improving effluent quality significantly[7].
Proper sludge treatment prevents environmental hazards and allows reuse as compost or biogas production. Currently, most Indian STPs neglect this aspect[2][5].
States like Telangana, Maharashtra, Bihar, Goa, Haryana, West Bengal, and Uttarakhand have adopted advanced technologies like SBRs since 2018[7].
Treated wastewater can be used for irrigation, industrial cooling, road washing, toilet flushing, or groundwater recharge through drainage fields[6][7].
[1] https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/603906/adbi-cs2020-1.pdf
[2] https://www.cambi.com/resources/blog/a-leap-to-advanced-sewage-treatment-for-india/
[3] https://www.iamrenew.com/sustainability/top-5-sewage-treatment-plants-stps-in-india-in-terms-of-capacity/
[4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPLa31dvoxQ
[5] https://www.indiawaterportal.org/faqs/frequently-asked-questions-faq-wastewater-sewage-treatment-plants-stp
[6] https://www.premiertechaqua.com/en-gb/wastewater/how-does-a-sewage-treatment-plant-work
[7] https://www.downtoearth.org.in/waste/india-is-adopting-advanced-sewage-wastewater-treatment-tech-but-must-choose-those-that-best-meet-local-needs-92863
[8] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0G8R2YfW5k
[9] https://www.grafuk.co.uk/sewage-treatment-faqs/
[10] https://www.britannica.com/technology/wastewater-treatment
[11] https://www.statista.com/chart/32296/development-of-number-of-operational-sewage-treatment-plants-and-annual-sewage-generation-in-india/
[12] https://www.wri.org/insights/waste-watts-how-sewage-could-help-fix-indias-water-energy-and-sanitation-woes
[13] https://trityenviro.com/bd/India-sewage-treatment-plants-are-why-very-important/
[14] https://unsplash.com/s/photos/sewage-treatment-plant
[15] https://unsplash.com/s/photos/wastewater-treatment-plant
[16] https://ssir.org/articles/entry/fixing_indias_sewage_problem
[17] https://cdn.cseindia.org/userfiles/prof_asolekar.pdf
[18] https://www.global.toshiba/ww/products-solutions/social/water-environmental/project/sewage-treatment-plant-in-india.html
[19] https://cpcb.nic.in/openpdffile.php?id=UmVwb3J0RmlsZXMvTmV3SXRlbV85OV9OZXdJdGVtXzk5XzUucGRm
[20] https://pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1779784
[21] https://www.trade.gov/market-intelligence/india-environmental-sludge-management
[22] https://www.bmuv.de/en/topics/water-management/overview-water-management/wastewater/sewage-treatment-plant
[23] https://www.123rf.com/stock-photo/sewage_treatment_plant.html
[24] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2cQXfnwLQ0
[25] https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/environmental-science/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2020.00030/full
[26] https://www.downtoearth.org.in/waste/india-s-sewage-treatment-plants-treat-only-a-third-of-the-sewage-generated-daily-cpcb-79157
[27] https://www.easymerchant.co.uk/blog/using-a-sewage-treatment-plant/
[28] https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-news-analysis/capacity-of-india-s-sewage-treatment-plants
