The Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Change (“Ministry”) has invited public comments on Draft Liquid Waste Management Rules, 2024 (“Draft Rules”) by 8^th December, 2024. Objections or suggestions on the proposals contained in the Draft rules may be addressed to the Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, Jorbagh Road, New Delhi- 110 003 or electronically via e-mail at: sohsmd-mef@gov.in.

Key Highlights:

1. The proposed enforcement date for the Draft Rules is 1^st October, 2025.
2. The following definitions have been proposed to be introduced:
   1. Bulk user of water;
   2. Commercial Unit;
   3. Disinfected or Disinfection;
   4. Disposal system;
   5. Extended User Responsibility;
   6. Greywater;
   7. Liquid Waste;
   8. Liquid Waste Generator;
   9. Reuse Responsibility;
   10. User fee;
   11. Wastewater; etc.
3. Proposal to introduce duties of wastewater generator for disposing of wastewater generated are proposed as below and to not dispose wastewater generated. Further, pay user fee after approval of State / Union Territory Government.
4. Proposal to introduce duties of bulk user of water are given as below if the bulk user of water, other than industries having water consumption of more than 5000 litres per day or pollution load of more than 10 kg per day:
   1. Register on the centralized online portal.
   2. Extended User Responsibility (“EUR”) obligation for wastewater generated based on water consumed to ensure treatment of wastewater generated and to set up and operate on site decentralized wastewater treatment facility.
   3. It is proposed to introduce, bulk user to reuse treated wastewater for designated uses as per the prescribed targets and to file annual returns.
5. Proposal to introduce the following duties of operator of wastewater treatment facility:
   1. Registration of Wastewater treatment facility(ies) prior to generation of EUR Certificate on the centralized online portal.
   2. Provide monthly quantitative data on the operation of wastewater treatment facility, sludge and/ or organic manure/soil conditioner/ biogas generated after treatment of wastewater, use of treated sludge/organic manure/soil conditioner/ biogas.
   3. Ensure minimum recovery target of wastewater and to file annual returns.
   4. Exemption from registration and reporting if bulk users of water and operators of decentralized wastewater treatment facilities are same entities.
   5. Mandate generation of EUR certificate by registered wastewater treatment plants.
   6. Pay fee for generation of EUR certificate finalized by CPCB.
   7. Filing of quarterly and annual returns by the wastewater treatment facility.
   8. The cost of EUR certificate shall be 50% of the environmental compensation in case of noncompliance of the obligation by the obligated entity.
6. Proposal to introduce the following duties of user of Onsite Sanitation System including septic tank, lined/unlined tank, twin pit, single pit:
   1. Desludge septic tank as per directions issued by local body.
   2. Faecal sludge shall not be disposed on open land or in water body.
   3. Pay fee prescribed by the local body for desludging, transportation as well as treatment of faecal sludge.
   4. Avoid flushing harmful chemicals, non-biodegradable items, oils, or fats into the septic tank.
   5. Septic tank is made accessible for maintenance without posing risks to workers, and that it has safe, secure covers to prevent accidents or unauthorized access.
   6. Practice efficient water use to reduce the load on the septic system.
7. Proposal to introduce the following duties of operator of desludging services:
   1. Registration on the centralized online portal.
   2. Ensure mechanized desludging, use of PPE kits and transportation of faecal sludge is done in an environmentally sound manner.
   3. Obtain fees from user of Onsite Sanitation System for desludging, transportation and treatment of faecal sludge and provide a share to registered faecal sludge treatment facility or wastewater treatment facility.
   4. Provide monthly quantitative data on the operation of services in the preceding month, including number of on site sanitation facilities desludged etc. on the centralized online portal.
   5. Filing of annual return on number of on site sanitation facilities desludged, quantity of faecal sludge desludged and transported etc. on the centralized online portal.
8. Proposal to introduce the following duties of operator of faecal sludge treatment facilities:
   1. Registration on the centralized online portal.
   2. Ensure facility is in accordance with the standards or guidelines prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board.
   3. Ensure the facility carries out any activity in accordance with the guidelines prescribed by Central Pollution Control Board.
   4. Ensure the facilities are geo-tagged.
   5. Provide monthly quantitative data and filing annual returns on the operation of faecal sludge treatment facilities regarding quantity of faecal sludge received, quantity of faecal sludge treated including generation of organic manure/soil conditioner/ biogas/ other products if any etc. on the centralized online portal.
9. Proposal to introduce the following duties of Industries having water consumption of more than 5000 LPD or pollution load above 10 kg per day:
   1. Registration on the centralized online portal.
   2. Comply with the effluent discharge standards set by CPCB.
   3. Install and maintain or make use of ETPs or Common Effluent Treatment facilities to treat industrial effluents to prescribed standards before utilization/ discharge.
   4. Ensure no liquid effluent is discharged outside the industrial premises, adopt Zero Liquid Discharge systems.
   5. Minimize freshwater intake and reduce environmental discharge loads through reuse of treated effluent/ wastewater within industrial processes.
   6. Obtain Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate from respective SPCB’s.
   7. Develop and implement an emergency response plan for accidental releases or failures of effluent management systems.
   8. Provide monthly quantitative data and filing annual returns on the operation of ETP in respect of water consumed, wastewater generated etc. on the centralized online portal.
   9. Reuse the treated wastewater as per the prescribed targets.
10. Proposal to introduce the following duties of operator of ETP/CETP:
    1. Regular monitoring of the quality of treated effluents using in-house facilities or third-party laboratories.
    2. Submission of regular reports on effluent quality to the SPCBs. Online monitoring systems may also be mandated for continuous real time data submission.
    3. Ensure proper handling, treatment, and utilization/ disposal of sludge generated.
    4. Ensure minimum recovery of wastewater as prescribed.
    5. Provide monthly quantitative data and filing annual returns on the sludge and/ or organic manure/soil conditioner/ biogas generated after treatment of wastewater etc. on the centralized online portal.
    6. Monitor the water quality of treated water as well as of all the water bodies where treated water is discharged by itself or through the agency authorized by it.
    7. Registration on the centralized online portal prior to generation of EUR Certificate on the centralized online portal for treated wastewater other than industrial wastewater.
11. Proposal to introduce the following general obligations for sludge/ faecal sludge handling entities including wastewater treatment facilities, ETPs, CETPs, faecal sludge treatment facilities:
    1. Regular testing and analysis of sludge/ faecal sludge to be done to determine its composition.
    2. Categorize sludge/ faecal sludge based on its hazardous or non-hazardous nature.
    3. Employ suitable sludge/ faecal sludge treatment processes such as anaerobic digestion, composition etc.
    4. Ensure that sludge/ faecal sludge is stabilized to minimize its environmental impact, prevent leaching of harmful substances etc.
    5. Promote use treated sludge/ faecal sludge as soil conditioner or organic manure.
    6. Implement routine monitoring of sludge/ faecal sludge management practices.
    7. Submit regular reports to the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) or Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) detailing the treatment methods used, compliance with standards etc.
    8. Secure necessary permits or approvals for sludge/ faecal sludge treatment and disposal.
    9. Ensure the safety of workers involved in sludge/ faecal sludge management.
    10. Maintain transparency in sludge management operations.
    11. All entities, other than wastewater treatment facilities, faecal sludge treatment facilities, ETPs/CETPs, which are engaged in treatment of sludge/ faecal sludge shall be registered on centralized online portal.
    12. Regular health checks and monitoring of workers to prevent exposure to harmful pathogens or chemicals present in sludge/ faecal sludge.
12. Proposal to introduce levy of environmental compensation on entities carrying out activities without registration as mandated.
13. Proposal to introduce filing of annual returns by every registered bulk user, wastewater treatment facility and faecal sludge treatment facility to CPCB in the prescribed form.

Source: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

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