Socio-economic impact assessment of large-scale recycling of treated municipal wastewater for indirect groundwater recharge

Cost-benefit Analysis of Indirect Groundwater Recharge Scheme using Recycled Water in a Semi-arid Region

“…1). It has already shown promising outcomes in terms of recharged GW table, improved GW quality, and other socio-economic benefits (Singh et al, 2020;Verma et al, 2023;Manisha et al, 2023). This study, however, is restricted to only Kolar Taluka with the following features: geographical area -69,210 hectares (ha), cultivated area -35,715 ha, surface tank -42, total population-3,85,410 (rural population-2,46,948 and urban population-1,3,8,462), and major occupation-agriculture and associated activities.…”

“…Water stress characterized both by the scarcity of freshwater resources and the degradation of water quality among freshwater bodies has become an increasingly global concern (Tzanakakis et al, 2020;Lele, 2022). Therefore, in India, as well as many other countries, the reuse of treated wastewater has emerged as an alternative and sustainable water resource for mitigating water stress (Icekson-Tal et al, 2003;Tortajada and Bindal, 2020;Manisha et al, 2023). Reuse of treated wastewater has multidimensional benefits such as solving wastewater management issues, increasing water supply, recharging groundwater (GW), improving agricultural production, encouraging a circular economy, and protecting natural resources through reducing pollution by decreasing the amount of wastewater discharged into the environment (Guerra-Rodríguez et al, 2020; Ofori et al, 2021;Manisha et al, 2023;Verma et al, 2023).…”

“…Therefore, in India, as well as many other countries, the reuse of treated wastewater has emerged as an alternative and sustainable water resource for mitigating water stress (Icekson-Tal et al, 2003;Tortajada and Bindal, 2020;Manisha et al, 2023). Reuse of treated wastewater has multidimensional benefits such as solving wastewater management issues, increasing water supply, recharging groundwater (GW), improving agricultural production, encouraging a circular economy, and protecting natural resources through reducing pollution by decreasing the amount of wastewater discharged into the environment (Guerra-Rodríguez et al, 2020; Ofori et al, 2021;Manisha et al, 2023;Verma et al, 2023). It is important to note that any wastewater reuse project must adhere to various requirements, including environmental and public health safety, socio-cultural acceptance, and economic considerations (Breitenmoser et al, 2022).…”

“…A large-scale wastewater recycling project known as Koramangala & Challaghatta valley (K&C valley) was initiated by Govt. of Karnataka, India which aims for indirect GW recharge using secondary treated water (STW) coming from Bangaluru, India to fill surface tanks (irrigation tanks) of the neighboring semi-arid and drought prone districts of Kolar and Chikkaballapur located to the North and East of the city of Bangaluru (Singh, 2020;Manisha et al, 2023;Verma et al, 2023). Around 440 MLD of treated wastewater is currently pumped and later distributed by gravity to over 137 irrigation tanks which in turn recharge the GW in the nearby villages.…”

“…Around 440 MLD of treated wastewater is currently pumped and later distributed by gravity to over 137 irrigation tanks which in turn recharge the GW in the nearby villages. The project is one of the largest of its kind in India and is unique in several ways such as it addresses the issue of continued serious water scarcity in the region, improving GW quantity and quality, agricultural productivity, and socio-economic status (Verma et al, 2023;Manisha et al, 2023). Its success has led to such wastewater recycling models being emulated across other metro-cities of India.…”