HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) will supply treated water from Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) across the Core Urban Region (CURE) with the aim of reducing reliance on potable water for non-drinking purposes.
As part of the initiative, HMWSSB plans to create a “Treated Water Bank” by pooling treated wastewater from STPs operated by gated communities, private bulk colonies and industries. A system will be put in place to supply treated water for uses such as gardening, cleaning, construction and industrial operations. On the lines of its existing tanker service, the Board will introduce a “Book a Treated Water Tanker” facility for non-domestic users.
With urban growth placing pressure on drinking water supplies, the initiative seeks to curb the use of potable water for non-potable activities. Treated wastewater generated by private and industrial STPs across CURE will be channelled through a regulated framework, with nominal pricing to encourage adoption. Payments will be made to suppliers based on the quality and quantity of water provided.
HMWSSB managing director K Ashok Reddy told TNIE that instead of allowing treated water to be underutilised or discharged into sewerage systems, the Board plans to divert it for non-drinking purposes, thereby reducing pressure on drinking water sources.
The Board will conduct a survey of all private STPs in gated communities, colonies and industries. Facilities will be geo-tagged and integrated into a central digital database capturing details such as treatment capacity, daily output, COD, BOD, pH, TSS levels and supply potential.
STPs willing to participate will be registered under a dedicated Treated Water Supplier Database and provided access to an online portal to update availability. Payments will be made per kilolitre, linked to quality parameters. An IT-based platform will allow users to book treated water.
The proposal also includes water filling stations at STPs for tanker supply, storage points in bulk colonies and gated communities, online registration for secondary users, mobile quality testing teams and real-time availability updates.
Ashok Reddy said: “Sustainable water reuse is no longer optional. A structured, technology-driven system is essential for long-term water security.”