J. Environ. Res. Develop.

Journal of Environmental Research And Development Vol. 7 No. 1A, July-September 2012

RECYCLE AND REUSE OF TREATED SEWAGE WITHIN

POLLUTER’S BOUNDARY FOR SUSTAINABLE
WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT : A CASE
STUDY, PUNE, INDIA
Shastri S. S.* and Raval P. M.
College of Engineering, Shivaji Nagar, Pune, Maharashtra (INDIA)

Received April 05,2012 Accepted September 05,2012

ABSTRACT
Waste water management in India is gaining more importance due to pressure from the common man
and mainly from the stakeholders who suffer due to uncontrolled and haphazard discharge of waste
into the natural water bodies. The statistics show that in India, hardly 25-30% waste water is getting
treated to the satisfactory level. Although the central and state governments are pumping huge
money in the sanitation sector, unless some policy changes such as, making it mandatory for all
Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to utilize their treated waste within their boundaries, there will not be any
significant change in the wastewater management scenario in India, especially in the urban sector.
Even in big cities like Pune, sewage collection and treatment is not upto the mark. Although Pune
Municipal Corporation has developed a master plan for collecting and treating 100% of the sewage
likely to be generated by 2015, practically it seems to be impossible, taking into consideration the
present haphazard and unplanned growth of the city. Also, no thought is given at the PMC level for
developing appropriate decision making system for selection of technologies or treatment options
for Sustainable Waste Management. A research study was carried out for Pune wherein, the Multi
Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) approach was applied for arriving at the Sustainable Waster
Water Management Option for Pune City. It was found that recycle and reuse within the polluter’s
boundary was the most preferred option for Pune city. This paper highlights one such detailed study
for one of the sewage treatment plants in Pune city.
Key Words : Sustainable Waste Water Management, Recycle and reuse of
treated wastewater, Urban Local Bodies (ULBS)

INTRODUCTION city, which is the tributary of river Bhima, the

major river in Maharashtra, India which in turn is
Pune city is located at 560 m (1,840ft) above mean
the tributary of river Krishna. The river Mutha
sea level on the western margin of the Deccan
carries partially treated domestic as well as the
plateau. It is situated on the leeward side of the
industrial waste from Pune city which ultimately
Sahyadri mountain ranges (the Western Ghats), goes to river Bhima, finally empounding into Ujjani
which separates it from the Arabian Sea. It is a dam. 1
relatively hilly city, with its tallest hill, vetal hill,
In order to study the feasibility of sustainable
rising to 800 m (2,600 ft) above mean sea level.
wastewater management for Pune city, as a part
Just outside the city, the Sinhagad fort is located of on-going research, the detailed study was
at an altitude of 1300 m. The geographical area carried out. It was based on the outcome of multi
of the city is 243 sq. km after merger of fringe
criteria decision making, an analytical tool used
areas into the corporation limits.
for this research. The research revealed that
river Mutha is the main river flowing through Pune
recycling and reuse of treated wastewater within
*Author for correspondence polluters boundary is the most sustainable
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Journal of Environmental Research And Development Vol. 7 No. 1A, July-September 2012
wastewater option for Pune city. Based on this, untreated sewage finds its way into the river
the detailed study was carried out. This comprised course directly through many non point
of studying the wastewater generation and sources. This unaccounted for sewage makes
management scenario for Pune city and carrying the overall figure of sewage generation less
out the detailed study for one of the sewage than 80% of the water supplied. (Fig. 1)
treatment plants in Pune city i.e. Viththalwadi STP 2. In some cases, the treatment plant receives
in Pune city. The same is discussed in this paper. more water than the design flow. Hence, more
Waste water generation and managemenent than 50% raw sewage goes directly to the
scenario in pune city river. The treated waste from the STP gets
mixed with this surplus flow and just carries
Pune city has total population of about 35 lakhs
out the dilution. But all the efforts taken in
and the total water supply is 1050 MLD. Required
treatment are lost. (Fig. 2).
per capita water supply as per standard Indian
3. There is a big lapse between waste water
norms for A class cities is 135 lpcd whereas PMC
generation and collection and treatment. The
provides 229 lpcd of water. (Considering about
city population is growing by lips and bounds
20% losses, which comprise of 16% losses in
whereas the collection, conveyance and
distribution and 4% losses during treatment).
treatment facilities are much less than
About 80 % water supplied to consumers get
required, making the entire waste water
converted in sewage in Indian metropolitan cities.
management unsustainable in the city. As per
According to estimate Pune generates more than
the Environmental Status Report of PMC
567 million liter sewage per day. This is less than
(year 2009-10), the annual rate of growth for
a normal figure of 80% due to non-consumptive
Pune city is estimated to be 5%. However,
use of water which does not get reflected in
the infrastructure required for managing the
sewage as well as due to non-metered water
wastewater that will be generated due to such
supply, making the actual water supply as well as
a rapid increase in the population is not in
wastewater generation a suspect.
accordance with the rate of population growth
METHODOLOGY of the city
Study area RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Collection of sewage in Pune city Sewage projects: Master plan in pune city2
For the proper collection of the sewage from Considering the likely increase in the area under
different areas of Pune city, PMC has developed the jurisdiction of PMC (430 sq.km) and a rapid
the sewage collection system. The details are as rise in population, the project plan for water supply
follows
and sewerage services was revised and
Total sewage collection: 567 MLD. (domestic completed in the year 2005.
510 MLD and commercial 57 MLD)
PMC has constructed 7 sewage treatment plants
Catchment area: 199 Sq. km (as per environmental (STPs) along with the STP at Naidu Hospital at
Status report 2009-10)
Koregaon Park (Bhairoba Nala), Erandwane,
Total no. of sewage treatment plants (STPs): 7 Tanajiwadi, Viththalwadi, Mundhawa and Bopodi.
working The total 567 MLD of sewage is generated in
Total installed capacity of STPs: 382 MLD PMC limit, out of that 382 MLD (i.e. @ 67%) is
Total sewer line: 2200 km treated by the 5 STPs and the treated effluent is
Total pumping stations : 10 discharged into Mula Mutha Rivers. For the
Installed capacity of pumping stations: 402 MLD. treatment of the remaining 185 MLD sewage
Although the PMC has made huge investment in generated, 3 more STPs are proposed:
the treatment of sewage, there are lacunas in the 1. In the premises of the existing Naidu STP (115
waste water management. The main could be MLD) – Under construction
summerised as follows
1. 100% sewage which is generated within the 2. At Baner (30 MLD) - Proposed
city is not getting collected. Hence the 3. At Kharadi (40 MLD) - Proposed
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As seen from the Table 1, it is evident that the As per the public notice issued by the Government
PMC is spending a huge amount on construction of Maharashtra Pollution Department, dated 09/
as well as O and M of the STPs. However, it is 08/2008, the rivers are classified based on their
found that due to non-point sources, the river designated use as follows (Table 2). Depending
water quality is much below than that required upon the category of the river classified as follows
for the intended use of the river downstream of (Table 3). It is to be specially noted that with
Pune city. respect to the above norms, the Maharashtra

Fig. 1 : Sewage generation Fig. 2 : Sewage treatment

Pollution Control Board has categorized the 45 MLD treated wastewater goes for the irrigation
various stretches of river Mutha and the same purpose through a canal system known as Sade
are depicted in Table 4 . Satara Nali canal.
Recycle and reuse within / outside the In spite of ill effects of untreated wastewater on
polluters boundary4,5 human health and the environment, the treated
wastewater is highly reliable, nutrient rich and can
Recycle and reuse of wastewater for irrigation is
be used for agriculture. It will provide a year-round
a common practice in developing countries. It also
income, employment to local people along with
helps in the water scarce regions. As per the
food security to the urban and peri-urban local
agreement between the Pune Municipal
people. While the problems associated with
Corporation and the Water Resources Department
wastewater reuse and recycle in Pune arise from
(WRD) of Government of Maharashtra, Pune its lack of treatment and the will power of PMC.
receives 11.5 TMC of water annually and it is Besides this, PMC has 83 gardens in Pune city
supposed to give back 6.5 TMC of water back to and the total area of all these gardens is about
the WRD. In Pune, treated wastewater is used 268.2 acres. The treated waste water can be used
either in agriculture or directly discharged in Mula for these gardens. The treated waste water can
Mutha river. From 130 MLD Bhairoba STP only also be used for fire fighting. PMC has 10 fire
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 Table 1 : Details of sewage treatment plants in Pune

S/N Description Bopodi Tanajiwadi Erandwane Viththal Dr. Naidu Bhairoba Mundhwa Kharadi Baner
wadi Hospital (Proposed) (Proposed)
1. Capacity of 18 MLD 17 MLD 50 MLD 32 MLD 115 MLD 130 MLD 45 MLD 40 MLD 30 MLD
plant
2. Treatment Extended Bio tower Modified Sequential Activate Activated Sequential NA NA
facility aeration followed activated batch sludge sludge batch
by diffused sludge reactor process process reactor
aeration process
3. Year of May 2003 April 2004 Dec. 2004 July 2008 1981 July 2003 2009 NA NA
commissioning
4. Total area 1.5 hectare 0.72 hectare 0.8 hectare NA 4.6 hectare 8 hectare NA NA NA
5. Catchment 15 sq.km 18 sq.km 26 sq km 14 sq km 37 sq km 82 sq km 23 sq km NA NA
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area
6. Cost in 5.69 6.75 11.12 NA NA 37.54 / $ 32 /$ NA NA
crores (INR) 7.508 M 6.4 M
7. Power 2300 4050 11000 NA 15700 NA NA NA NA
consumption
KWH
8. Population in 1.25 lakh 1.33 lakh 3.70 lakh 2.2 lakh 6.66 lakh 9.62 lakh 2.8 lakh NA NA
catchment area

NA - Data not available

J. Environ. Res. Develop.
Vol. 7 No. 1A, July-September 2012
 Table 2 : Siting criteria for industries with respect to classes of river3

Classes No. development zone for any Only green and orange category of Type of industries (red, orange,
any type of industries industries with pollution control devices. green ) with pollution control devices

A-I 3 Km on the either side of river From 3 Km to 8 Km from river Beyond 8 Km from river
(H.F.L.) on either side (H.F.L.) on either side.

A-II 1 Km on the either side of river. From 1 Km to 2 Km from Beyond 2 Km from river (H.F.L.)
(H.F.L.)] on either side on either side.
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A-III 1/2 Km on the either side of river From 1/2 Km to 1 Km from river Beyond 1 Km from river
(H.F.L.) on either side (H.F.L.) on either side.

A-IV 1/2 Km on the either side of river From 1/2 to 1 Km from river Beyond 1 Km from river (HFL.)
(H.F.L.) on either side High Flood Line on either side.
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Table 3 : Designated best uses of river class 4

S/N Classification Designated best uses

I A-I Drinking water without conventional treatment but

after disinfection. Point from where the river origi-
nates up to first designated notified dam/weir.
II A-II Drinking water source with conventional treatment
followed by disinfection. River stretch below first
designated/notified dam / weir up to A-III/A-IV
Class of waters.
III A-III Fish and Wild Life Propagation

IV A-IV Agriculture, Industrial cooling and process.

Table 4 : Categorisation of various stretches of river Mutha from origin to

confluence point

Stretch of
S/N Name of river
A-I class A-II class A-IV class

1. Mutha river Origin to Khadakwasla Viththalwadi

Khadakwasladam dam to Vithalwadi weir weir to confluence
with Bhima river

stations in Pune city with total water storage preferred option.

capacity of 7.75 lacks liters. These fire stations
Review of similar works done in past
can also use the treated waste water. An exhaustive literature survey was carried out
A study was carried out for one of the Sewage for the present work. Also, sampling work was
treatment plants located in Pune, Viththalwadi STP carried out for river Mutha alongwith the
which has been designed for an average flow of performance assessment of the existing STPs6-8,
32 MLD. After treatment, the treated sewage assessing the feasibility of sustainable wastewater
finds its way into the river Mutha and it gets mixed option for Pune city9 use of multi-criteria decision
with the untreated sewage joining the river through making: Tool for wastewater management In
non point sources as depicted in Fig.1. To curb Pune city10 It is specifically to be mentioned that
pollution of rivers, it is very much essential that on carrying out the performance evaluation
all such non point sources be curbed. The PMC studies of few of the STPs in Pune, it is concluded
is taking measures for the same and a separate that the STPs are performing satisfactorily,
pipeline is being laid in the river bed which will however the wastewater management policy
convey the sewage joining the rivers through such needs a paradigm shift. The same was revealed
non point sources. However, there is some through the ongoing research pertaining to use of
opposition to this project from some groups of multi criteria decision making: tool for wastewater
citizens and the environmentalists. Although a very management in Pune city. based on the above
practical solution, it is uncertain whether such kind study, it was found that recycle and reuse of
of construction will be permitted in future. Hence treated wastewater within the polluter’s boundary
there is a need for paradigm shift and as a part of is the most sustainable option for Pune city. Hence
research, using multi criteria decision analysis; it a separate study was carried out for one of the
was found that recycle and reuse was the most STPs in Pune to check the suitability of the same.
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Viththalwadi sewage water treatment plant Description of the Plant
Location: - Rajaram Bridge Sinhgad Road, Pune 1. Design basis of the STP
Capacity - 32MLD (Average Flow) and 72MLD The flow characteristics i.e. various parameters
(Peak Flow) of the sewage when it comes into the STP and
Technology Used : Activated Sludge Process after treatment of the wastewater when it comes
Constructed By, Ramky Infrastructure Ltd (Fig. 3) out. As shown in Table 5.

Fig. 3 : Viththalwadi STP, Pune

Table 5 : Inlet and outlet characteristics for raw and treated effluent

S/N Parameter Inlet value Outlet value Unit

1. pH 7 to 8 7 to 8 —-

2. BOD 200-250 <20 Mg/ 

3. TSS 250-300 < 30 Mg/ 

4. Oil and grease 30 <10 Mg/ 

Components of the plant 3. Sludge handling

1. Raw sewage pumping station Thickener
Coarse screening Digester
Wet wall Centrifuge
Raw sewage pumps Flow diagram for main pumping station
2. Sewage Treatment plant Key features of the pumping station
Primary treatment 1. The water entering the plant is first passed
Biological treatment through screening. The coarse particles are
Chlorination and disinfection first screened through 40mm opening.
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2. The water then enters the second screening with 2 compartments of 48MLD and 32MLD.
where the fine particles are separated under 4. 3 pumps are used to pump the water during
peak flow- 32MLD.
mechanical rotary drum which has an opening 5. 2 pumps are used to pump the water during
of 6mm. half flow- 16MLD
3. After the screening is done the water then goes 6. The rising main has a diameter of 1200mm.
to the wet well which has a capacity of 80MLD (Fig. 4)

Fig. 4 : Flow Diagram for main pumping station

Biological treatment unit Disinfection unit
1. Aeration tank which is circular in shape. 1. Chlorine tank
2. Retrievable diffused aeration system 2. Chlorination system
3. Air blowers 3. Safety equipments
4. Secondary settling tanks Reuse of treated sewage water
5. Sludge recirculation system need for reuse
Flow diagram for the sewage treatment plant 1. The capacity of the Viththalwadi STP is
The diagram clearly shows that the water is first 32MLD, 32MLD of sewage is treated and it
passed through the inlet chamber to the STP. From is again left back into the river.
the inlet chamber the sewage undergoes screening 2. As the treated water again mixes with the
(coarse and fine). After the screening it undergoes untreated sewage flowing through the river
grit removal where the oil and the grease are originating form non point sources. Thus, it
separated from the sewage. Then it is let into the gets contaminated leading to wastage of
primary clarifier which then leads it to the aeration efforts taken in treating the wastewater and
tank. In the aeration tank the water is treated and the money used for the entire treatment,
the treated water then further moves to the including sewers as well. Thus, it leads to
chlorination tank where it is disinfected. The
unsustainable wastewater management.
sludge obtained from the aeration tank then moves
to the thickener, and then towards the digester 3. To overcome this, the reuse of the water
then later it is centrifuged where flocculation takes should be well planned. As PMC is supposed
place and the particles are suspended. The sludge to give back more than 55% of water it
thus produced gets stored in the sludge sump then receives to the water resources department,
taken to the waste management plants and further it will be a good way to recycle and reuse the
treated. Poly-electrolyte dosing system is also within its boundary for parks etc or give it
used to handle the sludge. (Fig. 5 to Fig. 8) back to the irrigation canal.
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Aeration
Tank

Fig. 5 : Flow diagram for sewage treatment plant

Fig. 6 : Secondary biological treatment – view of aeration tank

Fig. 7 : Biological treatment unit – view of secondary settling tank

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Fig. 8 : Chlorine house

Ways of reuse of treated sewage water treated in the STP, out of which about 12 MLD
The recycle and reuse of the treated sewage is can be let into the river Mutha for maintaining the
the best option for achieving sustainability in base flow and the remaining 20 MLD treated
wastewater can used in the following manner.
wastewater management. The treated sewage
(Fig. 9 and Fig. 10)
can be used in industries or can be used for 1. By pumping it to the nearby parks or gardens
irrigation11-13. However, the final selection is case 2. By pumping it to the nearby industrial clusters/
specific and needs to be studied according to the pumping it to nearby forest area.
situation. The Treated sewage water can be again 3. By pumping it to the irrigation canal through
reused in the following ways: 32 MLD sewage is pipeline to the nearest possible location.

rough connection of
the pipeline. (it will
go underground)

Fig. 9 : View of the proposed pipeline connecting the treated sewage to the irrigation canal
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Irrigation line

Vittalhalwadi STP Sinhgad road

Sump
Pipeline

Fig. 10 : Schematic sketch of the proposed recycle pipeline

Details of the system Resources Department. This will also help to
 Sump- RCC and size 7m diameter and 2m reduce burden on alr eady stressed water
SWD resources in the area.
 Pipe line details CONCLUSION
1. Individual pipe diameter- 350mm Wastewater management is a challenging task and
2. Header pipe diameter- 450mm all the ULBs are faced with the burgeoning task
 Pipe material- cast iron- DIK9 pipe of achieving 100% collection, conveyance and
 Pump capacity- 417 m3/hr for 24 hrs treatment of the domestic waste. In most of the
 Total 3 pumps- 2 pumps in use and 1 standby cities, the common scenario is that after the
 Power consumption- 1650 KW/Day treatment of sewage, it is discharged normally into
 Provide weir at outlet pipe for separation of the rivers. Thus, the treated sewage gets mixed
water. with the untreated sewage and thus the whole
 The total cost of installation and construction efforts – physical as well as monitory, are lost. If
(block cost estimates) = 30-40 lacs. it is made compulsory for all the ULBs to recycle
It is the responsibility of the polluter as per the and reuse atleast 50% of the sewage produced
principle of “Polluter Pays” to take appropriate by them, it will help conserve the nature in many
measures to keep the pollution generated to a bear ways such as.
minimum level. All the ULBs shall take It will help to reduce the dependency on fresh
appropriate measures to recycle and reuse the water, thus more and more population can be
treated waste water within their boundaries. As supplied with fresh and non polluted water.
seen form the above case study, it is revealed It will help to curb the river water pollution, as
that Recycle and Reuse of the treated domestic more and more treated wastewater will be
wastewater is the best option for the Viththalwadi recycled and reused within the polluter ’s
STP. This will help to achieve the goal of boundary.
sustainable development. This will also help for As the treated sewage will not get mixed with
maintaining the quality of our water bodies and the untreated sewage, the efforts put-in, the
will help the downstream users who are the resources used and the money invested in creating
sufferers of such pollution created by their these treatment facilities will be utilised optimally,
upstream counterparts. This will also help to thus helping the ULBs to achieve sustainable
achieve sustainable development. Pune Municipal wastewater manage-ment.
Corporation shall think of maximum utilization of
treated sewage within their boundary as well as ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
shall give back the treated sewage to Water The authors are thankful to Pune Municipal
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Journal of Environmental Research And Development Vol. 7 No. 1A, July-September 2012
Corporation, Pune, India for providing the data 7. Soni R., and Shastri S. S. Assessing feasibility
pertaining to STPs in Pune. We would also like to of sustainable waste water management
thank Mr. Bipin Patel (Executive Director – option for Upper Bhima basin- Case study
RAMKY Group, India) and our students Mr. Pune city, project report, Bharati Vidyapeeth
Amey Patel, Mr. Mukund Pawar and Mr. Bhaskar Institute of Environmental Engineering and
for data collection, compilation, design and cost Research, Pune, Maharashtra, India, 69-72,
estimates for this project. (2010).
8. Monthly Activity Report, 130 MLD STP,
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