“Status of water supply and wastewater generation and treatment in Class-I cities and Class-II towns of India” by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

“Status of water supply and wastewater generation and treatment in Class-I cities and Class-II towns of India.” CPCB, GoI. 2009

This is the fourth in a decadal series of reports published by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), previous ones published in 1978-79, 1989-90 and 2000, which provides basic information about the status of water supply and sewage generation and treatment of 498 Class-I cities and 410 Class-II towns, along with information on 53 coastal Class-I cities and 35 coastal Class-I towns, besides Ganga Basin as a separate subsection.

An important finding of the report is that the total sewage generation from Class-I cities and Class-II towns together in India today, is about 38.254 MLD, out of which only 11.787 MLD (35%) is treated, with a capacity gap of 26,467 MLD (65%). This sewage composed of domestic wastewater and/or industrial discharge, is a major source of water pollution in India, particularly in and around large urban centres. This is because, the sewage is largely let out untreated and it either sinks into the ground as a potential pollutant of ground water or is discharged into the natural drainage system causing pollution of rivers/streams in downstream areas. The report also reveals that while about 78% of the urban population have access to safe drinking water, only about about 38% of the urban population have access to sanitation services …

 

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