Noida uses only 26% treated water, empties rest into rivers

Noida: Despite having six sewage treatment plants producing 260 million litres of treated water daily, Noida utilises only 68 MLD of it, barely 26%, while releasing the remaining 192 MLD (74%) back in drains that empty into the Yamuna and Hindon rivers.
The National Green Tribunal has now asked Noida Authority to achieve 100% utilisation of treated water, following its suo motu action on a news report (published on June 11 last year) highlighting this wastage. The order, issued on Feb 6, was recently uploaded on the NGT website.
A bench of NGT chairperson Prakash Shrivastava, judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi, and expert member Afroz Ahmad, who were hearing the matter, was informed that Noida was discharging STP-treated water into drains instead of using it for irrigation and other non-drinking purposes.
The Authority also submitted that it was working to expand its infrastructure to increase the use of treated water. It said a supply pipeline is being laid to connect the STP in Sector 123 with sectors 74-79, 112, 113, 115, 116, 117, and 118. This network is expected to boost treated water utilisation by an additional 18-20 MLD.
The tribunal emphasised the importance of utilising treated sewage water for non-potable purposes, as it can help conserve natural water resources.
"Noida is directed to ensure 100% utilisation of STP-treated water. We direct the respondent to submit a comprehensive plan along with a timeline for achieving full utilisation," the tribunal stated. The next hearing is scheduled for May 15.
STP is designed to treat and process wastewater from households, industries and commercial areas before it is released back into the environment or reused. The main purpose of an STP is to remove contaminants, making the water safe for discharge or non-drinking purposes like irrigation, construction, and industrial cooling.
The Noida Authority claimed that it has already instructed the water and horticulture departments to use treated wastewater for the purpose of irrigating parks, green belts along roads and other green zones in the city.