EXAMINING WATER RE-USE AS AN OPTION TO AUGMENT WATER RESOURCES, TOWARDS MEETING WATER DEMAND IN CHENNAI CITY, TAMIL NADU, INDIA

Abstract

Much has been written about water- a physical as well as a philosophical element on the Blue Planet- that an introduction to it, more often than not, turns out to be yet another cliché. Water is an important constituent parameter under both the Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals. The United Nations had declared the decade 2005-2015 as the International Decade for Action 'Water for Life' and World Water Day in 2015 was themed “Water and sustainable development” serving to highlight how water is inextricably linked with s00ustainable development.

The concept of Water as an infinite, inexhaustible resource is fast changing. The accelerated effects of climate change is only seeking to reinforce this notion. Thus, the utilization of water more than once through the treatment and reuse of domestic waste water is becoming a necessity rather than an option. In this study report, an effort is made to study water reuse practices in select cities of the world- Singapore, Tianjin and Windhoek to examine its potential to be an option of efficacy in water stressed countries/cities, in particular the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu province of India from a technological, economical and health feasibility perspective.

The option of desalination as an alternative source to augment water resources and achieve water self sufficiency is also put to test against the framework of sustainability and to determine its relative standing vis-à-vis domestic treated water reuse. Finally, based on a methodical study of water reuse based on the selected case studies of water reuse and desalination, the author makes a series of recommendations for Chennai city to achieve sustainability in the city’s domestic water management practices.