New Delhi, Sep 22: The Ministry of Jal Shakti on Monday launched discussions on innovative models and community-driven solutions for managing and reusing greywater—domestic wastewater from sinks, baths, showers, and washing machines, excluding toilet waste. Officials and experts underlined that effective greywater reuse can help conserve nearly 30–40 per cent of freshwater resources.
The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) hosted a virtual workshop on “Greywater Management and Reuse,” as part of preparatory thematic conferences leading up to the Sujalam Bharat Summit scheduled for November-end. The Summit will be chaired by Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil.
The workshop featured detailed presentations from Punjab, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana, and Jharkhand, along with inputs from WaterAid India, showcasing decentralised technologies and panchayat-led initiatives. These case studies reflected how localised solutions can be scaled to strengthen water security and climate resilience.
Additional Secretary and National Water Mission Director Archana Varma stressed the wider impact of greywater management, noting, “With proper reuse, up to 40 per cent of water can be conserved, making it critical for cleanliness, public health, and long-term sustainability.”
Additional Secretary and Jal Jeevan Mission Director Kamal Kishore Soan highlighted the urgency of the issue in the context of the Jal Jeevan Mission. He said, “Our systems must be climate-resilient, technically sound, and responsive to community needs. Sustainable models at the local level are the key to lasting solutions.”
The Sujalam Bharat Summit is one of six departmental summits designed to feed grassroots innovations into national policy. Anchored by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and coordinated by NITI Aayog, it aims to ensure that central strategies remain connected to field realities while empowering communities to become active partners in water conservation.
