Sewage Generation and Treatment Status for the Capital City of Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

The piped water supply in Lucknow was introduced in 1892 to serve the population of 2 Lacs. However, the population has risen exponentially since then from 2.1 million in 2001 to 2.86 million in 2011 according to the census data of the Government of India. In this paper, statistical analysis was done and it was projected that the population of Lucknow will be as high as 4.2 million in 2025 followed by 6.42 million in 2040. Since the water demand is proportional to the population, it is projected that present water demand of 550 million liters per day (MLD) would rise to the maximum of 1300 MLD in the year 2040 which is twice more than the present volume. The major concern of Lucknow city is the poor efficiency of wastewater treatment facilities which are deteriorating the quality of underground water and surface sources. The major concern lies in Gomti River. The wastewater generation in 2025 would be as high as 700 MLD while for the year 2040 it would be 1100 MLD. To meet the given figures a well-planned and effective wastewater treatment system has to be designed and implemented which may include centralized and decentralized treatment facilities in accordance with the need of the particular division followed by up-gradation of the present water supply and sewerage system. Care should be taken while discharging the sewage into river Gomti and other natural streams as it should strictly follow the prescribed standards by central state pollution control boards, also there should be the least disturbance of aquatic ecosystem. Furthermore, deterioration of the water quality must be minimized to a large extent.