Tackling India’s Water Scarcity with Decentralised Water Reuse
9 January 2025, 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
Bengaluru
Context
Bengaluru has developed a globally unique approach to manage water. Rather than relying solely on centralised sewerage systems, it has over 3,500 decentralised sewage treatment plants, which treat about 17% of its wastewater. The treated water is used for flushing, cleaning, and landscaping, among other activities.
While these distributed plants can be a resilient water source, many of them function sub-optimally due to inadequate technologies, unqualified operators, or neglect. With water scarcity intensifying in Bengaluru—and most of India—it is crucial to explore how decentralised sewage treatment plants can function more effectively and how we can increase treated wastewater reuse to address water crises across the country.
About the Conference
WELL Labs and Eawag are oranising the conference, Tackling India’s Water Scarcity with Decentralised Water Reuse. It will explore how high-quality and affordable decentralised water reuse could be scaled to address urban water scarcity across India.
Schedule
| 9:30 – 10:00 am | Arrival and Tea/Coffee |
| 10:00 – 10:30 am |
Welcome Address Overview of Decentralised Wastewater Treatment and Reuse in Bengaluru |
| 10:30 – 11:00 am |
Plenary 1 | Governance Perspectives Inputs from policymakers on the scaling potential of water reuse and its integration into state and national policies, and regulatory plans |
| 11:00 – 11:30 am | Plenary 2 | Water Reuse: Challenges and Solutions |
| 11:30 am – 12:30 pm |
Roundtable 2 | Technology, Monitoring, and Markets Discussion on the development of robust and affordable wastewater treatment solutions, reliable monitoring, quality guarantees, and market creation |
| 12:30 – 1:30 pm | Lunch |
| 1:30 – 2:30 pm |
Roundtable 2 | Technology, Monitoring, and Markets Discussion on the development of robust, affordable treatment solutions, reliable monitoring, quality guarantees, and market creation |
| 2:30 – 3:30 pm |
Interactive World Café Sessions | Systemic Barriers to Water Reuse Viewing of Exhibition Stalls |
| 3:30 – 4:00 pm | Tea/Coffee Break |
| 4:00 – 4:30 pm |
Plenary 3 | Presentation on the current state of water reuse, barriers, and opportunities |
| 4:30 – 4:45 pm |
Closing remarks |
| 4:45 – 5:30 pm |
Photos and video snippets |