5 days Ago
Surat: Out of the 20 sewage treatment plants (STPs) operational in the city, 19 have received a five-star rating under the central government's clean water credit initiative. Based on these ratings under the Jal Hi Amrit scheme , the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) will receive a grant of Rs 104.75 crore, the highest in the state.
One of SMC's STPs received a four-star rating, which was newly launched at the time of the inspection conducted by the team. Currently, SMC treats an average of approximately 1,225 million litres per day (MLD) of wastewater through its network of 20 STPs. Notably, SMC was ranked first in India for its innovative approach to sewage utilization, efficiently repurposing treated wastewater for industrial use through its state-of-the-art tertiary treatment plant.
In another recognition, the central public health and environmental engineering organization (CPHEEO) issued an official advisory on retrofitting existing STPs that use the activated sludge process (ASP). The advisory recommends the implementation of the integrated fixed-film activated sludge (IFAS) process as an effective upgrade. This recommendation is based on the success story at the Anjana Sewage Treatment Plant of SMC.
The retrofitting demonstrated improved efficiency and performance, making it a model for similar upgrades across India. Authorities and stakeholders in the wastewater management sector are encouraged to consider this advisory to enhance the operational efficiency of aging STPs, ensuring better treatment outcomes and environmental sustainability . The Jal Hi Amrit scheme evaluates STPs across India, recognizing those that adhere to stringent treatment standards and contribute to sustainable water management.
"SMC has consistently adhered to international standards in sewage treatment, establishing itself as the leading city in Asia for supplying tertiary-treated water to industries and promoting large-scale water reuse. This incentive will be strategically utilized to further modernize our STPs and enhance the city's water treatment infrastructure," said Shalini Agarwal, municipal commissioner. Stay updated with the latest city news , Air Quality Index (AQI), and weather updates for major cities like Delhi , Mumbai , Noida , and Bangalore on Times of India .
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