Environment

India’s Advisory on Safe Sewage Sludge Reuse and Management

💧 Rising Wastewater Challenges

• Urban India produces 72,368 million litres of wastewater daily.
• Rural India adds another 39,604 million litres daily.
• Only 28% of this wastewater is treated.
• Around 120,000 tonnes of faecal sludge is generated daily.

⚠️ Why Safe Sludge Management Matters

• Sludge contains pathogens, heavy metals, and organic pollutants.
• Yet, it also holds nitrogen, phosphorus, and other plant nutrients.
• With proper treatment, sludge can be reused as fertiliser or soil conditioner in agriculture.

📘 Ministry’s Advisory: What’s Inside?

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has issued a 9-chapter advisory to:

• Dry and dewater sludge using solar and mechanical methods.
• Eliminate pathogenic microorganisms through effective treatment.
• Operate and maintain solar greenhouse dryers.
• Ensure bio-solids meet reuse standards safely.

⚖️ Regulatory Standards & Directives

• The advisory aligns with Sewage Sludge Directive standards.
• Farmers must sample and analyse sludge before use.
• Limits are set on heavy metal content in soil and sludge.
• Record-keeping of sludge reuse is mandatory.

🔧 Challenges in Implementation

• Low reuse rates of treated sludge.
• Need for technical training and local awareness.
• Infrastructure gaps and weak enforcement of standards.

🌿 Future Pathways

• Encourage public-private partnerships for sludge treatment.
• Promote community involvement and educational campaigns.
• Invest in low-cost, sustainable technologies.
• Integrate sludge reuse into urban agriculture and circular economy models.