In a first-of-its-kind step, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to supply water from its Colaba Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) to the Cricket Club of India (CCI), which civic body officials said will use to carry out maintenance work on its ground and lawns.
Abhijit Bangar, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects), BMC, confirmed the development to The Indian Express, and the civic body and CCI have entered into a three-year agreement for the supply of the treated water.
“To date, we have been using the treated water for various civic works, such as road washing, firefighting, and landscaping in BMC’s gardens. This will be the first time that the water will be supplied to a private stakeholder for non-potable usage,” a civic body official told The Indian Express.
According to civic body sources, the move followed the CCI administration’s request for authorities to supply 100 kilolitres of treated water daily. They said BMC will start providing the treated water to CCI from next week.
BMC will charge a nominal fee of Rs 21 for every kilolitre of water, and the authorities stated that the civic body will supply water for eight months annually, except for the four months during the monsoon.
“The CCI administration will be arranging tankers which will fill the water from the filling point of the STP. In total, we aim to generate a revenue of Rs 16 lakh annually by supplying water,” the official said.
At present, Mumbai generates 2,190 MLD of sewage daily, of which only 22.65 MLD, or 1 per cent, is recycled for non-potable usage. The remaining untreated water gets flushed out of the city through the sewage outfalls into the sea and creeks.
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Upgrading Mumbai STPs
BMC has four functional STPs in Mumbai at Colaba, Banganga, Chembur, and Charkop.
Of these four STPs, the Colaba STP, operational since 2020, is the largest, with a maximum capacity to treat up to 37 MLD of sewage daily. However, as of today, this STP recycles 15 MLD of sewage daily, sourced only from Colaba.
The Colaba STP functions as a tertiary water treatment facility that recycles the water and makes it fit for non-potable use. BMC plans to upgrade this plant to an Advanced Treatment Plant (ATP) in the near future so that the recycled water is fit for human consumption.
The official said this step is being taken to bridge the gap between water demand and supply in Mumbai. At present, Mumbai requires 4,200 MLD of water daily, of which the BMC can supply 3,850 MLD.
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“The water will be disinfected, and a process of mineralisation will be carried out so that the overall quality of recycled water matches the quality of drinking water that is being supplied by BMC daily,” said the official.
In addition, in 2023, BMC initiated a Rs 28,000 crore STP project to construct seven STPs with a capacity to treat 2,464 MLD of sewage daily. These STPs are expected to become operational in a phased manner from 2026 onwards.
Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India.
Expertise & Authority
Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai.
Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in:
Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting.
City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region.
Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis:
National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019.
State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019.
Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis.
Experience
Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies:
Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014).
Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express.
Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres. ... Read More
