Wastewater Treatment for Water Reclamation and Reuse

Abstract

Srinagar, located in the Kashmir Valley,  faces significant water scarcity challenges due to  population growth, urbanization, and limited freshwater  resources. Though the valley is known for its rich water  resources, the main city still faces significant water  challenges that impact its environment, economy, and  social well-being. In this context, wastewater treatment  plays a crucial role in reclaiming and reusing water to  address the city's water security concerns. This thesis  focuses on exploring wastewater treatment technologies  and strategies specific to Srinagar, Kashmir. The cost of  reclaimed wastewater relative to other water sources and  public acceptance of the reclaimed wastewater are the  two main factors that determine the viability of  wastewater reuse. For social efficiency, the choice of  wastewater treatment must weigh a variety of factors and  determine which combination will provide the highest net  benefit. Presently 3 STP’s namely Hazratbal STP, Laam  STP, and Habak STP are functioning around Dal Lake  under the control of LCMA (Lake Conservation and  Management Authority) and these 3 STP’s discharged the  treated water in the Dal Lake. This thesis also focuses on  saving the beautiful Dal Lake by diverting the treated  wastewater from STP’s around the Dal Lake for non portable use like irrigating fields, landscape irrigation  (public parks, playgrounds, green areas etc.), street  cleaning, fire protection system, vehicle washing etc. In  this study the water samples from the inlet and outlet of  all three plants were analyzed for a duration of three  months (May, June, July) for various parameters like  Temperature, Dissolved oxygen, BOD, COD, TSS,  Phosphorous, Nitrogen content etc. in order to check its  quality and usability for non-portable purposes. The  quality of the effluent was compared with the standards.  The results demonstrate that COD (Chemical Oxygen  Demand), BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), TSS  (Total suspended solids) and Faecal Coliforms have  reduced enough according to CPCB (Central Pollution  Control Board) and USEPA (United States  Environmental Protection Agency) that this wastewater  coming out of all three plants has no restrictions for use  in agriculture but some parameters haven’t decreased  enough to be used for landscape irrigation, street cleaning  etc. This study, therefore, tries to attract the attention of  the concerned stakeholders for a relook at the purpose of  increasing the efficiency by employing the most  competent and technical people so that the same treated  water can be used for all non-portable purposes.