Building India's wastewater treatment infrastructure: addressing questions of economic viability in reuse and recycling

ABSTRACT We first examine the financial viability of investments for wastewater treatment systems by looking at the potential sources of revenue. Then, we go on to argue why we need to look at the economic viability of the investments under reuse and recycling. The article describes four distinct scenarios of reuse of wastewater that exist in India, which influence the number and types of economic benefits that can be derived from wastewater treatment, and discusses how the three benefit streams vary according to the physical and socio-economic conditions, to conclude where the systems would be economically viable. In the same way, it also discusses the conditions ideal for improving the viability of wastewater recycling. A key message is that while the cost of production and supply of water for various uses will be high in regions facing acute water shortages, the benefits from wastewater treatment will also be quite high in such regions.