Innovations and Policy Solutions for Sustainable Water Management in Urban India
Introduction
In our previous post, we talked about the escalating water crisis in urban India and what the future holds if we fail to act today—a crisis driven by groundwater depletion, pollution, and the unpredictability of climate change.
The numbers paint a stark picture. As per NITI Aayog, about 600 million people in India are facing high to extreme water stress. India is also expected to be one of the most affected countries as global urban water scarcity is likely to surge in the coming years, with the affected population projected to rise from 933 million in 2016 to between 1.7 and 2.4 billion by 2050, as mentioned in a flagship UN report.
As cities expand and the demand for water resources increases, the need of the hour is to find sustainable solutions to these growing urban challenges. This blog explores some of the most exciting innovations, good practices, and policy changes defining the future of urban water sustainability in India.
The Road Forward: A Water-Secure Future
Water security in an urban context can be achieved by initiating change from the grassroots level and working the way up—establishing dedicated regulatory bodies, complemented by enhanced cross-sectoral cooperation at the municipality and city level. Developing such a monitoring and evaluation framework will assist in assessing the effectiveness of the policies implemented.
Encouraging Decentralized Water Management: More power to municipalities and communities, localized conservation projects can help optimize the utilization of resources. It is therefore important to encourage small-scale water harvesting as well as community-based management of wastewater treatment plants in urban complexes and housing societies.
Supporting Technological Improvements: Integrating AI, IoT-based monitoring, and smart infrastructure in water management systems is necessary to enhance efficiency and sustainability. More funding for research and development, adapting success stories from other countries will likely create new water conservation approaches.
Integration of Sustainability in Urban Planning: Cities must pay attention to water-sensitive urban development by incorporating green infrastructure, porous surfaces, and urban wetlands. If these measures are incorporated into building plans and urban development projects, we can achieve long-term sustainability.
Promoting Public Awareness and Changing Behavioral Trends: Citizens play an important role in the sustainable use of water. To this end, public awareness education campaigns and behavior change initiatives must be scaled up to encourage water use. Support for public participation in water conservation has to be provided through proper policy mechanisms.
Innovative Solutions and Best Practices for a Water-Secure Future
Rainwater Harvesting: A Low-Cost, High-Impact Solution
One of the most productive ways of replenishing groundwater reserves is to collect rainwater, especially in urban setups. The state of Tamil Nadu has enforced mandatory rainwater harvesting initiatives, and as a result, the recharging of aquifers has enhanced water availability in their state exponentially, setting a national precedent.
Since 2009, Bengaluru has also adopted a large-scale rainwater collection system instead of relying more on the declining reservoirs. However, the problem is that it has not been embraced extensively by the masses. According to Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), only about 2 lakh out of the 10.8 lakh homes in Bengaluru have rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems installed.
The actual challenge is to get urban populations to comply more stringently with such initiatives.
Wastewater Recycling and Reuse: Closing the Loop
States like Haryana and Karnataka are leading the way in wastewater treatment and reuse for industrial and agricultural water use. As of 2024, Delhi has 42 wastewater treatment plants, treating an average of 3,200 million liters per day (MLD). Industries and farmlands around Delhi NCR can utilize this treated water and further reduce dependency on the already depleting freshwater bodies.
Similarly, Bengaluru’s urban flooding looks like something out of a post-apocalyptic movie. To tackle this, the city has adopted a circular water economy model by integrating treated sewage water into the system. This sustainable approach focuses on recycling and reusing wastewater and recovering resources to minimize dependence on fresh water and avoid urban flooding.
Decentralized wastewater treatment systems (DEWATS) are another green energy option suitable for small and medium-sized urban centers. A recent survey by the Bremen Overseas Research and Development Association (BORDA) highlights the potential effectiveness and scalability of DEWATS in the Indian context. Out of the approximately 20,000 small-scale decentralized sewage treatment plants (STPs) across the country, 400 are DEWATS-based. However, these solutions are still limited by infrastructure and investment gaps.
Smart Water Management: The Use of Technology to Enhance Effectiveness
Data-driven approaches are changing the way water is managed. Pune has adopted IoT-based smart meters that help track real-time water consumption to avoid wastage and enhance efficiency. The National Hydrology Project by the Ministry of Jal Shakti exemplifies how data-assisted management can enhance decision-making.
Community-led Initiatives: Local Solutions to Global Challenges
Civic engagement is of utmost importance when it comes to proper urban water conservation. NGOs and community-driven efforts can bring thousands of people and communities into watershed management and help revive water bodies that are on the verge of drying up.
Many NGOs are already working at local levels towards these efforts—these initiatives show the potential of people’s power, but the institution’s support complemented by proper funding and devoted manpower is equally important for the sustainability of such initiatives.
Nature-Based Solutions: Biodiversity in the urban environment
Urban wetlands and green infrastructure can enhance the cities’ resistance to water risks. The city of Kolkata has been using the East Kolkata Wetlands to treat millions of liters of wastewater every day and, at the same time, support people’s livelihoods. Chennai’s water management strategies include building ‘sponge cities’ with porous pavements, green roofs, and urban wetlands to enhance their flood defense and groundwater storage capacity.
Policy Interventions and Government Initiatives
State and City Level Programs: Local Actions
The Jalyukta Shivar Abhiyan of Maharashtra has enhanced water retention in drought-prone regions. At the same time, Delhi has focused on water augmentation through the restoration of water bodies and the installation of wastewater treatment facilities. Indore, India’s first Water+ city, has provided good rainwater harvesting and wastewater reuse practices.
Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Accelerating Investment in Water Sustainability
Collaborative models currently play an important role in urban water solutions. The Namami Gange Programme, which integrates private sector capabilities in wastewater treatment for river cleaning, and the Nagpur 24×7 Water Supply Project are good examples. Another example is Mumbai’s upcoming seawater desalination project, which will help meet municipal water demand.
The challenge lies in how to make these partnerships more transparent and sustainable in the long run.
Conclusion
A critical takeaway here is the urgent need to make sure that these water management models are synchronized and shared on a cross-city level. While cities like Chennai, Bengaluru, and Indore have successfully introduced innovative water management strategies, the true scope of these implementations can only be achieved when these insights and data are shared and adapted across other urban centers to have a nationwide impact.
Water security is not just the domain of governments—replicating these success stories through systematic knowledge transfer complemented by the efforts of businesses and civil society can accelerate India’s progress toward a water-secure future.
The time to act is now—because the water we conserve today will determine the cities of tomorrow.
Raj Kashyap Das – Content Strategist, Sambodhi
