India is a developing country that needs an urgent resolution of liquid waste water problem. These wastes are coming from homes, offices, industries, and even public grounds. The government knew they needed a resort to tackle this issue, and thus, the Draft Liquid Waste Management Rules 2024 were born.

Origin of the Rules

The MoEF&CC issued draft regulations on 7th October 2024. This rule is a kind of magic spell-casting upon the land, which kept it clean and healthy. However, this rule needed support from all of us: city councils, village committees, industries, airports, railway stations, and of course, we as India!

Extended User Responsibility (EUR) Liquid Waste Management as per 2024 Rules

Extended User Responsibility is the most significant aspect of the Liquid Waste Management Rules, 2024. Rather than just a formality, wastewater management can be made sustainable, while EUR takes the onus of any industry or group of industries, institutes, large housing societies, etc., that withdraw bulk water to accept responsibility for the proper treatment and finally reuse their wastewater. Treatment facilities setting up, monitoring treatment processes, and reporting compliance with the regulatory authority are included.

The EUR framework mandates that the bulk users embrace minimum reuse targets. Starting with 20 percent, it has increased to 50 percent by 2030-31.

This is phased, where users are gradually guided on safe reuse practices while space is provided for the necessary infrastructure to be established.

Transparency and accountability are also demanded of the users, whose records make them release periodic reports and regular monitoring and operations of the treated wastewater.

By implementing EUR, Liquid Waste Management Rules 2024 will reduce wastewater impacts on the environment, and resource efficiency, and enhance the promotion of a circular economy.

This approach, other than being environmentally friendly, also saves the business money in water and enhances its sustainability profile.

In a nutshell, the EUR framework can be such an important step towards more efficient and sustainable wastewater management that combines environmental with economic challenges.

Start your Liquid Waste Management Rules 2024 today!

Liquid waste has various forms

• Wastewater: The water we used and then threw away from our sinks, showers, and toilets.
• Sludge: Thick, muddy stuff coming from treatment plants.
• Fecal Sludge: The waste from the septic tanks and pit latrines

Implementation framework

Centralized Online Portal:

• Central Pollution Control Board shall establish an online system for the registration as well as for filing annual returns of all obligated entities under these rules within six months of commencement of these rules. 
• It shall also reflect the details regarding the audit of the registered 
• The system shall ensure a mechanism wherein the volume balance of wastewater as per Extended User Responsibility obligations of bulk users as well as non-obligated entities is reflected.

The aim of the rules is very clearly defined; wastewater would be disposed of in an environmentally sound way to save environment from hazardous impacts.

Reducing Waste at the Source

Source Reduction: Everyone was encouraged to produce as little waste as possible. It includes using water wisely and not wasting it or encouraging reuse of waste water.

Treated Wastewater Recycling and Reuse

Treated wastewater was not to be sent down the drain. It should be recycled and reused for non-potable purposes such as irrigating gardens and flushing toilets.

Treated Sludge and Faecal Sludge Proper treatment and disposal

Sludge and fecal sludge are very hazardous in nature, so this waste must be carefully handled. Disposed such waste properly through composting, incineration, and land filling

These rules shall apply to

• Every urban body as well as rural local body 
• All public authorities and entities responsible for the generation and management of wastewater, sludge from wastewater treatment facilities and faecal sludge 
• Special notified areas including industrial areas/townships, special economic zones (SEZs), food parks, 
• All areas under the control of Indian Railways including railway stations, railway tracks and land parcels adjacent to railway tracks, 
• Airports, airbases, ports and harbours, 
• Defence establishments
• All public and private establishments
• State and Central government organizations
• Places of pilgrims, religious and historical importance
• All land owners public or private, individual or body corporate, in possession of land parcels, and 
• Every domestic, institutional, commercial and any other non-residential liquid waste generator including bulk user of water.

State Pollution Control Board or Pollution Control Committee, as the case may be, to the operator of a facility or a local body, or any other agency responsible for processing and disposal of liquid waste;

Imposition of Environmental Compensation for non-compliance

The Environmental Compensation shall also be levied based upon polluter pays principle on persons who are not complying with the provisions of these rules, as per guidelines to be notified, for the following activities:-

• Entities carrying out activities without registration
• Providing false information /wilful concealment of material facts by the entities registered under these rules;
• Submission of forged/manipulated documents by the entities registered under these rules;

The environment compensation shall be levied on bulk users operating with respect to non fulfilment of their Extended User Responsibility targets, responsibilities and obligations set out under these rules.

In case any person, provides incorrect information required under the rules for obtaining extended user responsibility certificates, uses or causes to be used false or forged extended user responsibility certificates in any manner, willfully violates the directions given under these rules or fails to cooperate in the verification and audit proceedings; action under Sections 15, 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D, 15E and 15F of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 may be taken.

In case, obligated entity does not fulfil their EUR obligation even three years after the year of obligation, action under Sections 15, 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D, 15E and 15F of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 may be taken

Duties of bulk user of water:- Every bulk user of water, other than industries having water consumption of more than 5000 litres per day or pollution load of more than 10 kg per day in terms of BOD;

• Shall have to register, through Form 1(A) on the centralized online portal. 
• Shall have Extended User Responsibility (EUR) obligation for wastewater generated based on water consumed to ensure treatment of wastewater generated and reuse treated wastewater for designated uses as per targets given
• Shall set up and operate on site decentralized wastewater treatment facility of requisite capacity
• In case, where the bulk user, is not able to set up on site decentralized wastewater treatment facility of requisite capacity, it shall obtain EUR certificates from registered wastewater treatment facilities
• Shall establish dual piping in any newly constructed facilities/ premises after these rules come into force
• Shall prepare an Extended User Responsibility plan as per Form 1(C) 
• Shall have the obligation with respect to the minimum reuse of treated wastewater as per the below given targets

• Shall provide by 7th of every month quantitative data on the operation of on site decentralized wastewater treatment facility of the preceding month
• Shall file annual returns, by 30th June of every year as per Form 3, in respect of on-site decentralized wastewater treatment facility to SPCB
• Shall file annual returns to SPCB in respect of EUR obligation on the centralized online portal

The following formula shall be used to estimate the Extended User Responsibility certificates for wastewater treatment plants: 

Extended User Responsibility certificates (litres) = Quantity of wastewater received for processing (litres)

Note: Extended User Responsibility certificates for recyclers shall be generated based on volume of
wastewater received for processing.

Duties of Industries:-  Industries having water consumption of more than 5000 LPD or pollution load above 10 kg per day in terms of BOD:

• Shall comply with the effluent discharge standards set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), as outlined in the Environment Protection Act, 1986, and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974;
• Shall adhere to limits on pollutants such as pH, suspended solids, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), heavy metals, and specific toxic substances depending on the industry type;
• Shall install and properly maintain ETP(s) or make use of Common Effluent Treatment facilities (CETPs) to treat industrial effluents to prescribed standards before utilization/ discharge;
• Shall adopt Zero Liquid Discharge systems, where applicable or mandated under law or treat wastewater as per extant regulations; ensuring that no liquid effluent is discharged outside the industrial premises, particularly in water-scarce areas or as mandated by regulations for certain high-polluting industries;
• Shall minimize freshwater intake and reduce environmental discharge loads through reuse of treated effluent/ wastewater within industrial processes. Industries should explore closed-loop systems and water conservation technologies;
• Shall obtain and adhere to Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) from the respective SPCBs, ensuring that all effluent management activities align with the specific conditions laid down in these consents;
• Shall adopt cleaner production techniques, process modifications, and advanced treatment technologies to reduce effluent volume and pollutant load;
• Shall undertake regular training and capacity building for staff on effluent management best practices, technology use, and compliance requirements;
• Shall develop and implement an emergency response plan for accidental releases or failures of effluent management systems, including notification procedures, containment measures, and corrective actions;
• Shall disclose relevant information about effluent management practices and compliance status;
• Shall provide by 7th of every month, quantitative data on the operation of ETP on the centralized online portal;

Industries shall have the obligation with respect to the minimum reuse of treated wastewater as per the Table below. 

• Shall procure Reuse Responsibility Certificate from registered wastewater treatment facilities or CETPs, in case the obligation with respect to the minimum reuse of treated wastewater is not met through decentralized wastewater treatment facility and/or ETP
• Shall not deal with any other entity not having registration mandated under these rules.

Immediate Support

• Identifying the various sources of waste generation
• Strategic process reengineering to reduce waste water generation throughout the organization
• Identify and Implement the best recycle and reuse waste treatment technologies as per your organization current processes
• Monitoring the entire process till your business is in operations
• Channelizing the waste Sludge and Faecal Sludge to respective hazardous waste management recyclers authorized by SPCB and CPCB

Future support once CPCB portal registration is live

• Support in both CPCB & SPCB portal registration and department queries handling
• Support in completing Extended User Responsibility (EUR) obligation with the help of authorized SPCB/SPSB recyclers
• Annual renewals & annual returns management
• Free consulting on continuous process improvement on how to reduce and manage liquid wastewaste as per rules and policies and how to reduce the cost of liquid waste management.