To combat the growing demand for water and the water crisis in Delhi, the Delhi government is preparing to introduce the 'Reclaim Water Policy 2026'. The goal of this policy is to maximize the use of treated water from wastewater treatment plants to reduce the consumption of drinking water.
According to Delhi's Minister of Water Resources, Pravesh Varma, about 750 million gallons per day (MGD) of water is treated at plants in Delhi. Of this volume, approximately 350 MGD is discharged into the Yamuna River, and of the remaining 400 MGD, only about 120 MGD is currently reused. The government aims to ensure the utilization of the remaining approximately 280 MGD of treated water, which led to the development of the Reclaim Water Policy 2026.
Under this policy, the application of treated water will be encouraged in sectors such as construction and gardening in Delhi. Furthermore, it is planned that treated water will be used instead of drinking water for tasks like farm cleaning, car washing, and in residential complexes.
A dual pipeline system will be developed to ensure the supply of treated water to residential complexes. In areas where such a separate line is not provided, treated water will be delivered by tanker trucks upon request. The Delhi Water Board will organize the provision of separate connections and meters for treated water, allowing for monitoring its use and billing.
The Minister of Water Resources noted that if people use treated water for gardening, cleaning, and washing cars, it will lead to a reduction in drinking water consumption. This, in turn, may help consumers qualify for the free water program up to 20 thousand liters and lower their water bills. The government believes that this policy will achieve maximum utilization of available water in Delhi, helping to reduce pressure on water resources in the future amid population growth.
A proposal was also presented by the Delhi Water Board to introduce infrastructure charges depending on water demand. Within the proposed system, the possibility of offering a discount on this charge ranging from 50 to 70 percent was discussed. Thus, the main objective of the new Delhi government policy is to restrict drinking water exclusively for drinking and essential domestic use, and treated water for construction, gardening, cleaning, and other non-potable needs to conserve water.