Experts at the Odisha Urban Conclave 2026 have called for a major shift in the way cities manage wastewater, advocating a “treat, reuse and recover” approach instead of the conventional practice of treating and disposing of used water.
The call was made during the Technical Symposium on Used Water Management held at Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar on Sunday. The event brought together government officials, engineers, policymakers, academics, technocrats and industry representatives to discuss sustainable solutions for urban wastewater management.
Wastewater should be treated as a resource
Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, who attended the symposium as chief guest, stressed the need for safe, economical and sustainable management of treated wastewater and sludge.
He said wastewater should increasingly be viewed as a resource rather than merely a waste stream, particularly as rapid urbanisation puts greater pressure on existing water resources.
The minister also emphasised greater coordination among government agencies, technical institutions, practitioners and technology providers to address the growing challenges of urban wastewater management.
Focus on safe reuse of treated water
H&UD Department Additional Chief Secretary Usha Padhee called for moving beyond simply treating wastewater and disposing of it.
She stressed the importance of planned and safe reuse of treated water and urged technical experts and professionals to develop solutions that are practical, sustainable and scalable.
The discussions focused on several aspects of used water management, including wastewater treatment, reuse, sludge management, resource recovery and urban drainage.
Experts discuss new wastewater technologies
Dr V.K. Chaurasia of the Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organisation (CPHEEO) shared national perspectives on best practices, technologies and policy frameworks for used water management.
Er Prasanta Kumar Mohapatra of the Odisha H&UD Department outlined the state’s experience with selected Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) projects and highlighted challenges related to wastewater treatment infrastructure.
Researchers from leading IITs also presented emerging technologies and solutions.
Dr Guruprasad Talekar and his team from IIT Palakkad discussed STP/FSTP sludge management and biosolids standards, while Prof Bhaskar Jyoti Deka of IIT Roorkee spoke about innovative wastewater treatment processes focused on reuse and resource recovery.
Prof Rajesh Roshan Dash of IIT Bhubaneswar discussed emerging aerobic and anaerobic wastewater treatment technologies and their potential applications in urban areas.
Policy and planning emerge as key concerns
The symposium also examined the policy challenges surrounding treated wastewater reuse.
Dr Nitin Bassi of the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) shared perspectives on policies supporting treated wastewater reuse, while Subrata Chakraborty of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) highlighted planning challenges involved in ensuring safe and effective reuse.
Er Abinash Roul, Engineer-in-Chief of Odisha’s Water Resources Department, discussed innovative city drainage systems and the need for integrated urban water infrastructure.
Industry showcases wastewater solutions
The event concluded with an Industry Showcase featuring technologies designed to improve urban wastewater management.
Solutions presented included low-footprint STPs, decentralised wastewater treatment systems, wastewater conveyance solutions, ETP and STP technologies, aerated wetlands, in-situ lake and nala remediation, and mechanised sewer and sludge management.
The discussions highlighted the need for stronger policy support, technological innovation and closer collaboration between the government, academia and industry.
The overall focus was on strengthening Odisha’s urban water security while moving towards a more sustainable and circular approach to water management.
