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Haryana Sewage Fails River Safety Standards
6 Jul
Summary
- Over 2,700 treated sewage samples failed water quality standards.
- Hisar, Gurgaon, and Faridabad recorded the most failures.
- Non-compliance threatens river health and reuse efforts.
Sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Haryana are failing to prevent untreated sewage from entering rivers, with over 2,700 treated sewage samples collected between 2021 and May 2026 failing to meet prescribed water quality standards. This indicates that wastewater discharged into rivers and drains repeatedly contained pollutants above permissible limits.
Hisar district recorded the highest number of failed samples at 183, followed by Gurgaon with 76 and Faridabad with 59. Nearly one in every three treated sewage samples tested at STP outlets was classified as "non-complying." Persistent violations suggest systemic operational failures at the treatment plants.
The repeated failures, with the highest number of violations occurring in 2022, point to issues like overloaded plants, inadequate maintenance, or malfunctioning equipment. This situation undermines Haryana's efforts to improve water quality in the Yamuna and other river systems, as most treated sewage eventually reaches the Yamuna.
Non-compliance means excess organic matter, suspended solids, nutrients, and harmful bacteria continue to flow into water bodies. This reduces dissolved oxygen, harms aquatic life, and poses health risks if the water is used downstream for irrigation. The failures also limit the safe reuse of treated wastewater for agriculture and industry, and for groundwater recharge.
