The state pollution board plans to modify the permitted quantities of contaminants and other components in treated sewage water before its release in a significant move to protect Haryana's waterbodies. This decision shifts the emphasis from increasing sewage treatment capacity to assuring the quality of the water treated at the plants.

The Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), according to officials, aims to change the permitted norms of indicators that directly affect water quality. The current pH value range for water discharge, which measures acidity, is, for example, 55 to 90. When treated sewage is released into bodies of water, the board hopes to reduce this range to 65-68.5.

Other factors, such as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solids (TSS), are also scheduled to be updated. When treated wastewater is discharged into any water body, BOD should be less than 10 mg/l and COD should be fewer than 50 mg/l, according to the plan. The current BOD limit for dumping treated sewage into bodies of water is 10 mg/l. Furthermore, the board plans to establish the acceptable levels of heavy metals in treated water, such as magnesium (mg/l), mercury (Hg) (mg/l), lead (Pb) (mg/l), and others.

The goal of these planned adjustments is to release treated sewage water into bodies of water without generating pollution. The irrigation and agricultural department expressed concern about the probable percolation of wastewater into the earth, contaminating groundwater. Following expert meetings, it was discovered that treated wastewater could meet certain standards for bathing and other applications, resulting in the proposal of new regulations. "Once the new rules are imposed," said P. Raghavendra Rao, Chairman of the HSPCB, "it will help improve the quality of water in rivers and revive water bodies in the state."

Sewage treatment is also intended to help with the rehabilitation of the Yamuna River. Sewage water in Gurgaon is mostly routed into the Najafgarh channel, which eventually empties into the Yamuna. Most other districts in the state discharge wastewater directly into the river. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) performed a survey between December 2021 and March 2022, which found that common effluent treatment facilities (CETPs) were mixing sewage with chemicals and industrial waste. Furthermore, a 2018 investigation by CPCB officers and specialists found that Haryana sewers were releasing high levels of ammonia into the river. Experts have welcomed the HSPCB's initiative to revitalise water bodies as "crucial." They emphasise the significance of rigorous processing and testing of treated water to prevent contamination from seeping into the earth and potentially polluting the region's whole groundwater.

The proposed adjustments to the criteria for treated sewage water are a big step forward in Haryana's efforts to reduce water pollution. The state hopes to conserve its rivers and revitalise its water bodies by focusing on the quality of treated water. This decision is likely to benefit not just the environment, but also the health and well-being of the populations that rely on these water resources.