Delhi's Reclaimed Water Policy: Farmhouses to pay ₹10,000/acre monthly for treated water use

The use of treated water for lawns and other eligible activities by farmhouses in Delhi will have to pay ₹10,000 per acre on a monthly basis under the proposed Reclaimed Water Policy, and the infrastructure cess for laying a connection would be Rs 1 lakh per acre.

CM Rekha Gupta and Water Minister Parvesh Verma announced the proposal on Tuesday.

The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) recently approved the policy to increase the use of treated sewage water and reduce groundwater extraction and will hold discussions with stakeholders before sending it to the government for approval.


Delhi treats around 50 million gallons per day (MGD) of sewage, wherein 483 MGD is available for reuse, but only about 120 MGD gets reused.

The city’s water board intends to notify ‘Reclaimed Water Service’ areas around compliant sewage treatment plants and connected sewer networks. Construction sites measuring 500 sqm or more in area in these zones will be mandated to use reclaimed water for dust suppression, curing, washing and road watering.

Bulk water consumers would be brought under a phased substitution programme, as the policy is aimed at reaching 100% use of reclaimed water for eligible non-potable requirements by 2036, stated the agency.

The proposal’s treatment and quality requirements are based on intended use and would mandate safeguards, including colour coding, identification, metering, on-site storage and physical separation of reclaimed and potable water systems. The city’s water board officials will be empowered to inspect sites, examine records and collect samples, imposing penalties on potential violations.

"Over the past one-and-a-half years, the government has studied Delhi's long-standing problems and begun working on long-term solutions," Gupta said, as reported by TOI, wherein she added focus on addressing water supply, sewerage, drainage and waterlogging through modern infrastructure, smart metering and real-time monitoring.

CM Gupta has outlined a Rs 56,000-crore master plan and a Rs 2,500-crore Asian Development Bank-funded initiative to overhaul Delhi’s water and sewerage infrastructure. The government also proposed Rs 11,427 crore to improve water infrastructure in west and southwest Delhi, which is intended to benefit 36.4 lakh people.

(With inputs from TOI)