In a move aimed at turning treated sewage into an usable water resource, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) is set to map and monitor private sewage treatment plants (STPs) across the city and create a network of reliable treated-water suppliers.
The initiative is intended to maximise the reuse of treated wastewater for non-potable purposes, such as gardening, construction, industrial activities and cleaning, and reduce dependence on fresh drinking water and groundwater for requirements that do not need potable water.
As a first step, the Board has made registration mandatory for private STPs operating in residential colonies, gated communities, apartment complexes, commercial establishments and industries. Operators have to register through the official website, https://www.hyderabadwater.gov.in, under ‘prospective customer services’ by October 1.
The Board said it will conduct a citywide survey and geo-tag the plants. The portal captures details including treatment capacity, technology used, Environment Protection Training & Research Institute (EPTRI) certification, and quality parameters such as chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), pH and total suspended solids (TSS).
The exercise is expected to create a database showing the location of private STPs, the quantity of treated water available and whether it meets prescribed standards. This could help connect users requiring non-potable water with nearby STPs, enabling builders, commercial establishments and industries to source treated wastewater locally instead of relying on the Board’s piped water supply.
Under the registration process, operators will have to submit their CAN number, name of the society or establishment, technical details of the plant, geo-location, photographs and EPTRI verification documents.
Plants that consistently provide treated water meeting prescribed quality standards will be recognised as registered treated water suppliers. They will further receive a separate online portal login to periodically update treated-water availability.
The initiative will also include surprise inspections to ensure registered plants maintain the required treatment standards. The Board appealed to private STP operators across Hyderabad to cooperate with the survey, said the registration process must be completed before the October 1 deadline.
