Water Water & Wastewater Managementamp; Wastewater Solutions
India has 18% of the world’s population and 4% of its freshwater. We help industrial, commercial, and infrastructure facilities achieve ZLD compliance, optimise water use, design STP/ETP/CETP systems, and meet CPCB/SPCB effluent standards — backed by 11 purpose-built digital water tools and our WWT Decision Support System covering 65+ treatment technologies.
India’s Water Challenge
Water is India’s most critical environmental and business risk. With declining groundwater tables, polluted rivers, erratic monsoons, and rising industrial demand, effective water management is both a regulatory necessity and a competitive advantage.
21
Major Indian cities projected to run out of groundwater (NITI Aayog Composite Water Management Index)
70%
Of India’s surface water contaminated. Only 37% of wastewater generated in urban India is treated before discharge.
1,544
Assessment units classified as “over-exploited” for groundwater by CGWB (Central Ground Water Board)
80%
Of India’s freshwater used by agriculture. Industrial water allocation faces increasing competition and regulatory scrutiny.
Water & Wastewater Regulations in India
Water (P&CP) Act, 1974
Primary legislation for water pollution prevention and control. Establishes CPCB and SPCBs. Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) requirements for industrial discharges. Effluent standards enforcement.
NGT ZLD Directions
National Green Tribunal mandated Zero Liquid Discharge for highly polluting industries: textile dyeing/bleaching, distilleries, tanneries, pulp & paper, and pharmaceutical API manufacturing. Non-compliance attracts closure orders and environmental compensation.
CGWA Guidelines 2020
Central Ground Water Authority NOC required for groundwater extraction by industrial, infrastructure, and commercial projects. Criteria based on extraction volume, area classification (safe/semi-critical/critical/over-exploited), and aquifer type.
CPCB Effluent Standards
General and sector-specific effluent discharge standards for BOD, COD, TSS, pH, heavy metals, oil & grease, colour, and emerging contaminants. Industries discharging into surface water, sewers, or land must meet prescribed limits.
BRSR Water Disclosure
BRSR Principle 6 (Essential): Total water withdrawal by source, water consumption, water discharge by destination and quality, water intensity. BRSR Core requires third-party assurance of water KPIs for top 1,000 companies.
Jal Jeevan Mission
National mission for functional household tap water connections by 2024. Drives state-level water supply and sewerage infrastructure projects. Creates opportunities and compliance requirements for water sector operators.
Water & Wastewater Advisory Services
STP / ETP / CETP Design
Sewage, effluent, and common effluent treatment plant design, optimisation, and upgrade. Technology selection via our WWT DSS covering 65+ treatment technologies with CAPEX/OPEX benchmarking. From conceptual design through detailed engineering support.
Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD)
ZLD system design and feasibility assessment for NGT/CPCB-mandated industries. Evaporation, crystallisation, and membrane hybrid systems. Cost-benefit analysis of ZLD vs. treated effluent reuse. Compliance roadmap with phased implementation.
Water Audit & Balance
Comprehensive water balance assessment. Source identification, consumption mapping per process, loss quantification, recycling opportunities, and water conservation roadmap. Essential for CGWA NOC, BRSR P6, and CDP Water Security responses.
Nature-Based Solutions
Constructed wetlands, phytoremediation, bio-retention systems, and natural treatment systems for decentralised wastewater management. Low-energy, low-maintenance alternatives for rural, peri-urban, and campus applications.
Groundwater & CGWA NOC
Groundwater potential assessment, aquifer characterisation, sustainable yield estimation, and CGWA NOC application support. Groundwater monitoring programme design. Artificial recharge system design.
Effluent Compliance & Monitoring
CPCB/SPCB discharge standard compliance. Online monitoring (CEQMS) system design. Laboratory coordination. Compliance reporting. Show-cause response and remediation planning for non-compliant units.
Water Solutions by Industry
Pharmaceuticals
ZLD for API manufacturing, pharmaceutical residue treatment, solvent recovery, AMR-safe discharge
Textiles
ZLD for dyeing units, colour removal, chemical recovery, ZDHC compliance
Steel & Cement
Process water, cooling tower optimisation, slag quenching, dust suppression
Real Estate
STP design, treated water reuse, rainwater harvesting, IGBC water credits
Manufacturing
Process water optimisation, boiler/cooling water, wash water recycling
Power & Energy
Cooling water, ash pond management, thermal discharge, FGD wastewater
BFSI
Data centre cooling water, office STP compliance, water risk in loan portfolios
IT/BPO
Campus water management, STP for large campuses, IGBC green building compliance
RSustain Water Toolkit — 11 Purpose-Built Tools
India’s most comprehensive suite of digital water management tools — from assessment and design through monitoring and reporting.
WWT Decision Support
65+ treatment technologies with sector-specific selection, CAPEX/OPEX benchmarks, and technology comparison.
Launch tool →WWT Designer
Wastewater treatment plant configuration tool. Process train design with equipment sizing and cost estimation.
Launch tool →WaterBalance Pro
Industrial water balance and ZLD feasibility assessment. Source-to-discharge mapping with recycling opportunities.
Launch tool →Groundwater Assessment
Aquifer characterisation, groundwater vulnerability, sustainable yield, and CGWA NOC support.
Launch tool →RiverPulse
River and lake health assessment with water quality indices and pollution mapping.
Launch tool →AquaSteward
Water stewardship assessment aligned to CPCB and SPCB compliance requirements.
Launch tool →DrinkSafe
Drinking water quality assessment against BIS IS 10500 and WHO guidelines.
Launch tool →WetlandDesigner
Nature-based wastewater treatment design for constructed wetlands and phytoremediation.
Launch tool →WaterDisclose
CDP Water Security reporting structure and guidance for water disclosure questionnaires.
Launch tool →Water & Waste Tracker
Consumption and discharge monitoring dashboard for ongoing compliance tracking.
Launch tool →FloodWise
Flood risk assessment for project sites with return period analysis and infrastructure resilience scoring.
Launch tool →Complementary Services
Environmental Clearances
CTE/CTO applications with water and effluent management plans
EIA Support
Water baseline studies and hydrological assessment for EIA reports
Waste Management
Sludge management from WWT systems, hazardous waste from chemical treatment
BRSR Compliance
Water data feeds directly into BRSR P6 and BRSR Core water attributes
Water & Wastewater FAQ
Which industries must achieve ZLD in India?
Zero Liquid Discharge has been mandated by NGT/CPCB for: (1) textile dyeing and bleaching units, (2) distilleries, (3) tanneries, (4) pulp & paper mills, and (5) pharmaceutical API manufacturing. Additional ZLD requirements may be imposed as EC conditions for specific projects or by state-level directions. ZLD systems typically combine multiple treatment stages — primary treatment, biological treatment, membrane separation (UF/RO), evaporation, and crystallisation — to achieve zero liquid discharge to the environment.
What are CPCB effluent discharge standards?
CPCB prescribes general effluent standards and sector-specific standards under the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986. General standards include: BOD ≤30 mg/L, COD ≤250 mg/L, TSS ≤100 mg/L, pH 5.5–9.0, oil & grease ≤10 mg/L for discharge into inland surface water. Sector-specific standards are more stringent — for example, pharmaceutical industry COD limit is 250 mg/L but individual SPCB conditions may be stricter. Treated sewage discharged from STPs must meet BOD ≤10 mg/L, TSS ≤10 mg/L, and faecal coliform ≤100 MPN/100mL per the latest CPCB norms.
Do I need a CGWA NOC for groundwater extraction?
Yes, if your industrial, infrastructure, or commercial project extracts groundwater. CGWA NOC is required for all new and existing groundwater extraction by industries, infrastructure projects, and mining operations. The NOC conditions depend on the area classification (safe, semi-critical, critical, or over-exploited), extraction volume, and availability of alternative sources. Domestic use and drinking water supply by government agencies are exempted. NOC applications are filed through the CGWA portal.
What water data is required for BRSR?
BRSR Principle 6 Essential Indicators require: total water withdrawal by source (surface, groundwater, municipal, seawater, others), total water consumption, water intensity per rupee of turnover, and water discharge by destination and quality. BRSR Core requires third-party assurance of water KPIs. Leadership Indicators include water recycling/reuse rates, water stress area assessment, and water stewardship commitments. Companies should also disclose compliance with CTE/CTO water-related conditions.
What is the difference between STP, ETP, and CETP?
STP (Sewage Treatment Plant) treats domestic/municipal wastewater (toilets, kitchens, laundry). ETP (Effluent Treatment Plant) treats industrial wastewater containing process-specific contaminants (chemicals, heavy metals, oils, dyes). CETP (Common Effluent Treatment Plant) is a shared facility that treats combined wastewater from multiple small-scale industries in an industrial cluster — typically in CETPs set up by industrial associations or state pollution control boards for SME clusters that cannot afford individual ETPs.
Optimise Your Water Management
Whether you need a water audit, ZLD feasibility study, STP/ETP design, or CPCB compliance support — our team and 11 digital water tools are ready to help.