The West Bengal Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Department under the government of West Bengal has prepared a draft on the West Bengal State Policy on Safe Reuse of Treated Wastewater. The policy promotes the reuse of treated wastewater in urban areas, particularly in residential housing projects. Under the proposal, new housing developments receiving environmental clearance will be required to use treated wastewater for non-potable purposes such as flushing, landscaping and cleaning.
The policy also encourages adoption across commercial establishments, hotels, airports and railway stations, while proposing a geographic information system-based management system to track water demand, wastewater generation and reuse. The state aims to achieve at least 20 per cent reuse of treated wastewater by 2030, supported by quality monitoring by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board and the introduction of user charges to facilitate wider adoption of recycled water.