Wastewater Irrigation in Gujarat - People in Centre Consulting

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Pollution Control Board (CPCB), sewage generation from urban centers in India has grown from about 5 billion liters a day (bld) in 1947 to around 30 bld in 1997. CPCB (2009) indicated that class I (population >100,000) and class II cities (population 50,000-100,000) generated 38,254 million liters per day (MLD) of sewage and out of this, the treatment facility exists only for 11,787 MLD. This dismal position of sewage treatment is the main cause of pollution of rivers and lakes. Furthermore, of the 45,000 km length of Indian rivers, 6,000 km have a bio-oxygen demand above 3 mg/l, making the water unfit for drinking (CPCB 1998). Gujarat with a population of over 60 million inhabitants is one of the most urbanized states in the country. The urban population of Gujarat was 43 per cent in the year 2011, which rose from 37 per cent in the year 2001. The state comprises 167 urban local bodies (ULBs), the service provider of water and sanitation services in urban Gujarat. The growing population in the state has meant increased water supply and consequently, increased sewage generation during the previous decade. Although there are proposals to set up sewerage treatment plants along with conventional sewerage systems in all the class A, B, and C cities and municipal corporations, however as of now the current facilities to treat sewage remains far below the needed capacities. The report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for Gujarat (year ending March 2011) mentions, “out of 167 ULBs, 158 (93 per cent) ULBs have no facility for treatment of sewage. These ULBs discharge untreated sewages in the lakes (9 ULBs), ground water (18 ULBs), open land (46 ULBs), rivers (40 ULBs), natural drains (26 ULBs) and sea creek (9 ULBs). 8 ULBs diverted sewage water for irrigation, while for rest 5 ULBs, the position is un-ascertainable.” The practice of sewage farming in Gujarat is a useful source supporting livelihoods of farmers and is also considered as an alternative for disposing sewage. Thus, application of wastewater for agricultural purpose needs to be studied systematically. Significance and Objective of the Study In this background, the impact of wastewater irrigation on agriculture is worth assessing. To estimate the contribution of wastewater to agricultural economy, Gujarat was taken as a case due to familiarity with the state. Additionally, since most of Gujarat is water scarce, hence probability of wastewater irrigation is considered to be significant. The objective for this study is to estimate the scale of wastewater irrigation in Gujarat. The health and environmental impacts of wastewater irrigation will be studied subsequently. The specific objectives of this study are: • To draw attention towards wastewater as a resource and highlight it’s importance in today’s water scarcity and increased pollution of water. 2
• To use this exploration to confirm wastewater’s use for irrigation and estimate the magnitude of its contribution to agriculture in Gujarat. Uses of Wastewater for Agricultural Irrigation It is well known that farmers have been using wastewater as a source of irrigation for many years around the world. According to Hussain et al. (2001), at least 20 million hectare (m ha) in 50 countries is irrigated with raw or partially treated wastewater. This helps sustain the livelihoods of millions of poor farmers in Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and parts of Africa. It is estimated that one-tenth or more of the world’s population consumes foods produced on land irrigated with wastewater (Smit, J, Ratta A and Nassr J., 1996). The presence of nutrients and assured water supply is a major driving force behind wastewater use amongst famers. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (1984) suggests that domestic septage can be a resource rather than a waste when properly managed. Septage contains plant nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and in some cases varying amounts of micronutrients such as boron, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc (EPA, 2011). Various countries including Mexico, Kuwait, Jordan, Peru, Chile, Argentina, USA, Tunisia, Moroco use wastewater (both treated and untreated water but more so treated water and mainly for vegetable cultivation) for a variety of crops including vegetables, cereals, cotton fodder, etc. (Strauss Martin 1 ) . It is estimated that in India about 73,000 ha of (Strauss and Blumenthal, 1990) periurban agriculture is subject to wastewater irrigation. In peri-urban areas, farmers usually adopt year round, intensive vegetable production systems (300-400 per cent cropping intensity) or other perishable commodity like fodder and earn up to four times more from a unit land area compared to freshwater (Minhas and Samra, 2004). Regulatory Aspect of Wastewater and Current Situation While the use of wastewater in agriculture is very old, the legal and regulatory efforts have evolved in recent times only. For agricultural applications, the World Health Organization (WHO) published guidelines for wastewater for restricted and unrestricted irrigation in 1989 (WHO 2006). The WHO guidelines has a major predicament associated with it, which is either the sanitation service providers treat the wastewater and bring it within the safe limits for its reuse or curb the use of untreated wastewater among users. The study by the Winrock International India (2004-2005) states “While focusing on treatment and crop restrictions, the WHO guidelines pay inadequate attention to the problems of high cost involved in construction and operation of treatment plants. Authorities are therefore faced with two difficult options: either treat rapidly growing volumes of wastewater and bring it within safe limits for agricultural use, or try to stop wastewater use among the users 1"Reuse" of" urban" wastewater" and" human" excreta," EAWAG/SANDEC," Switzerland" available" at" http://www.ruaf.org/sites/default/files/Reuse_wastewater_in_UA.pdf"accessed"on"15th"October" 2012" 3
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Page 10 and 11: LIST OF FIGURES Figure.1:.Methodolo
Page 14 and 15: which would deprive many households
Page 16 and 17: Identification of Sewage Treatment
Page 18 and 19: chapters also provide the details o
Page 20 and 21: Another cooperative, the ‘Miroli
Page 22 and 23: flowing into it. Along the River, t
Page 24 and 25: The Table 2 provides a snapshot of
Page 26 and 27: Village Net Irrigated Area in Ha Ne
Page 30 and 31: Table 5: Sewage Treatment Scenario
Page 32 and 33: With metered supply of electricity
Page 34 and 35: any drainage. Hence, the major chun
Page 36 and 37: Table 9: Bhuj Area, Receipts and Ca
Page 38 and 39: As per the House listing and Househ
Page 40 and 41: Crops and Productivity It was found
Page 42 and 43: shows that there is a high deficit
Page 44 and 45: Figure 7: Map of Extent of Wastewat
Page 46 and 47: Table 18: Net and Gross Area, Recei
Page 48 and 49: drainage. Hence, the major chunk of
Page 50 and 51: Although area irrigated with wastew
Page 52 and 53: According to the House listing and
Page 54 and 55: Table below provides a snapshot of
Page 56 and 57: Crops and Productivity It was found
Page 58 and 59: Table 28: Comparison of Wastewater
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these treatment systems are much lo
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4. Farmers in Bedi village of Rajko
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use. These places use wastewater fo
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The section below provides the expl
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for using wastewater. Hence, suitab
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11. Swarup, D., Dwivedi, S.K. and D
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15. Mr. Gadhavi Assistant, Jaspar G
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Farmers No. Name of the Farmer Name
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