Toolkit for Preparing City Action Plans for Reuse of Treated Used Water

To address the growing demand for sustainable water management in urban areas, the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), in collaboration with the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), has developed a comprehensive Toolkit for the Reuse of Treated Used Water (TUW). This Toolkit serves as a strategic planning and implementation guide for urban local bodies (ULBs), aiming to support the formulation of City Action Plans for the reuse of treated wastewater.

With increasing urban population and rising water demand, cities are under significant pressure to manage water resources more efficiently. Despite significant investments in sewage treatment infrastructure, much of the treated used water remains underutilized. The Toolkit responds to this challenge by offering a step-by-step methodology to assess the current availability of treated wastewater and explore viable options for its reuse in non-potable applications such as landscaping, construction, cooling in thermal plants, industrial processes, agriculture, and groundwater recharge.

The Toolkit is structured around four core pillars:

1. Assessment of Existing Infrastructure – helping cities map wastewater generation, treatment capacity, and current reuse practices
    
2. Opportunity Mapping – identifying potential sectors and geographic zones where TUW can be effectively reused
    
3. Stakeholder Engagement – facilitating coordination between municipal departments, private sector entities, regulatory bodies, and communities to ensure inclusive planning
    
4. Implementation Framework – offering guidance on project structuring, financing options (public-private partnerships, municipal bonds, etc.), regulatory compliance, and risk management

Additionally, the Toolkit integrates principles of the circular water economy, encouraging cities to view wastewater not as a liability but as a valuable resource. It supports cities in aligning with key national and global sustainability agendas, such as AMRUT 2.0, Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban), and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation.

By adopting this Toolkit, cities can make informed, evidence-based decisions that lead to scalable, safe, and economically viable reuse systems. It provides a standardized yet adaptable framework that accommodates the unique context of each city. Ultimately, the Toolkit empowers city administrators to reduce freshwater demand, improve wastewater management efficiency, and enhance resilience against water scarcity—thereby fostering sustainable and water-secure urban development.