Giving Compass' Take:

• India recently launched a new Ministry of Jal Shakti, which aims to address the water crisis in India by focusing on wastewater reuse efforts at the local level. 

• How can donors help support these efforts and develop potential partnerships? 

• Learn about efforts to encourage rural sanitation in India. 

Earlier this year, the government of India launched a new Ministry of Jal Shakti with an aim to work on the escalating water crisis in the country. This ministry was born out of merging the Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, and the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation.

This new ministry has announced the launch of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan, a large-scale water conservation effort with a five-fold focus: water conservation and rainwater harvesting, renovation of traditional and other water bodies, reuse of water and recharging of structures, watershed development, and intensive afforestation.

One of the immediate aims of the mission is to bring together a multitude of water conservation methods at an individual, city, and state level. For instance, household level water conservation practices, community or city-wide rainwater harvesting, capturing runoff water and treating it, reuse of treated wastewater, and the rejuvenation of water bodies.

Wastewater is any used water originating from domestic use, such as black water (wastewater from toilets, usually containing pathogens); and grey water (water from bathroom sinks, showers, tubs, washing machines, and kitchens). Currently, this water is captured through an underground drainage system and then conveyed to a centralised treatment plant. Once the water is treated, it, along with some of the untreated wastewater, is discharged into an open drain, or in a nearby lake.

Read the full article about opportunity in wastewater reuse by Y. Malini Reddy at India Development Review.