Formal approaches to wastewater reuse in Bangalore, India

Water scarcity and pollution appear to be driving the need for wastewater treatment and use in Bangalore. The result is that two government agencies, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) have initiated waste treatment and use. The BWSSB is motivated by their mandate to provide water and sewerage to the city, while KSPCB’s motivation is their remit of pollution control and protection of water bodies. The systems are respectively large-scale treatment and sale of wastewater to industry and on-site treatment and use in apartments and commercial properties. Both have considerable merit but some limitations need to be overcome in order to reach their potential. For centralized systems this includes costs, public perception and infrastructure. For on-site treatment this includes public perception, stringent legislation and lack of technical expertise.