Formulating State Policies for the Reuse of Treated Wastewater

Gist Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have recently notified contextualized policies for the reuse of treated wastewater, moving away from a traditional one-size-fits-all approach. This development aligns with the national push to integrate treated wastewater into the circular economy, transforming it from a waste management issue into a reliable economic resource. For civil services aspirants, this highlights a critical shift in India’s water governance—moving beyond merely building treatment infrastructure to actively utilizing recycled water to combat recurring water scarcity and groundwater depletion. Background Historically, India's water management has focused on exploiting new freshwater reserves and building basic sewage treatment plants, largely driven by national schemes like the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation AMRUT . However, infrastructure alone failed to close the loop; treated water was frequently discharged back into drains rather than being utilized by farms or factories. To correct this inefficiency, the National Framework on Safe Reuse of Treated Water SRTW was introduced in 2022 . The framework shifted the paradigm by declaring wastewater reuse a national priority and mandating State governments to formulate tailored policies that set…