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Currently, water from the Kavoor and Pachchanadi sewage treatment plants is partially reused, while the rest is discharged into rivers post-treatment. The corporation is now considering complete reuse of this water. Additionally, plans are underway to treat and reuse water from the Surathkal and Jappinamogaru plants.
Sewage Management Across the City
Mangaluru’s 60 wards generate sewage, which is funneled through over 25,000 manholes into 22 wet wells in areas like Kudroli, Pandeshwar, Padil, Ekkur, and Kottarachowki. This sewage is then directed to the city’s four sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Surathkal, Jappinamogaru, Kavoor, and Pachchanadi.
- Kavoor Plant: The 44.4 MLD (million liters per day) capacity plant is managed by SEZ (60%) and MCC (40%). On average, 20 MLD of treated water is supplied to SEZ industries for reuse.
- Pachchanadi Plant: The 8.7 MLD plant treats sewage, which is then sent to the tertiary treatment plant (TTP) in Pilikula. Here, the water is further purified for use in Pilikula’s nature park and golf club. Approximately 6.5 MLD is used daily, while the surplus, after purification, is discharged into rivers.
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The Surathkal (16 MLD) and Jappinamogaru (20 MLD) STPs have yet to achieve reuse of their treated water. A plan to lay pipelines to transport treated water to Kavoor for reuse has faced delays due to high costs.
During summers, Mangaluru faces acute drinking water shortages. Redirecting treated sewage water for non-drinking purposes, such as construction and industrial use, could reduce potable water usage by 30%. However, ensuring the purity of treated water and setting up infrastructure pose challenges.
Demand for Industrial Use
Industries, construction projects, and parks in Mangaluru could benefit from treated sewage water. For instance, MRPL requires an additional 6 MGD (million gallons per day) of water for its refinery operations and captive power plant. Currently, the Kavoor plant supplies treated water to MRPL, but the demand is growing.
The corporation plans to adopt advanced technologies, inspired by Nagpur’s model, for water reuse. With proper infrastructure, MRPL is willing to use treated water for its operations, and other industries and parks can also benefit.
Meeting with MRPL
A special meeting is scheduled next week between MCC and MRPL to discuss operational costs, water transportation challenges, and maintenance responsibilities for treated sewage water reuse.
“We aim to implement a modern reuse plan for treated sewage water in Mangaluru, similar to Nagpur’s model. This will not only support industries like MRPL but also aid construction and park maintenance.”– Dr. Bharat Shetty Y., MLA, Mangaluru North “We will discuss logistics and expenses with MRPL to finalize responsibilities for water transportation and reuse management in the upcoming meeting.”
– Anand C.L., Commissioner, MCC Translated from a Kannada article by Dinesh Ira