2030 WRG Maharashtra Webinar Series on Wastewater Reuse in Agriculture in India: Webinar 1

Webinar 1 – Reuse and Applications of Treated Wastewater in Agriculture: Mapping the India Story and Insights from Israel (October 27, 2020) This is the first of a 3-part Webinar Series on Reimagining Reuse of Treated Wastewater in Agriculture in India: Technology, Finance, and Governance Perspectives. Highlights from Webinar 1: Webinar 1 highlighted the increasing potential and appetite for reuse of treated wastewater in agriculture through case studies from Gujarat, Karnataka, and Zalta in Maharashtra; support through the National and State level policies on the reuse of treated wastewater; and success stories in Israel. The discussions also highlighted key considerations for reusing treated wastewater including: • Standardization of treated water to ensure water quality for reuse • Regulatory setup which looks into tariffs, discharge norms, cleaning guidelines, etc. • Value of treated water and incentivizing the reuse of treated wastewater • Partnerships with the private sector who have access to technology and finance About the Webinar Series: With depleting freshwater sources and ballooning population, prioritizing water treatment is essential for India to build a circular economy. Several peri-urban areas that predominantly have agrarian landscapes are rapidly being converted into urban settlements with major changes in land use land cover pattern. The pace of this rapid urbanization surpasses the pace of infrastructure development, leading to a lack of basic amenities in peri-urban areas. Management of water resources and solid waste in these areas is highly challenging. Hence, there is a need for a review of harmonization on quality standards, criteria for discharge of water in the natural ecosystem, and integrating reuse and recycle of Treated Wastewater (TWW) to build a circular economy. Currently, only around 30% to 40% of wastewater in India gets treated, with a few examples of this treated wastewater being reused. There is a need to mainstream the reuse of TWW in agriculture through various approaches and technologies as they provide enormous opportunities to build climate resilience; enhance circular economy of resources; improve ecosystems, public health, and water availability for farmers; as well as preserve livelihoods. A virtual 3-part Webinar Series is being convened by 2030 WRG in collaboration with the Israel Economic and Trade Mission, World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD), India-EU Water Partnership (IEWP), and the Government of Maharashtra.