To propagate the concept of Decentralised Sewage Treatment System in the country a national workshop was organised on 24th January 2003. The recommendations of the workshop are as follows:

Policy and Rules for Promoting Decentralised Sewage Treatment System (DTS)

1. In view of the critical problem of increasing contamination of surface and groundwater and of the solid-mantle due to untreated or inadequately treated wastewaters and the unsatisfactory performance of the municipalities in handling the problems of existing dwellings, all new housing constructions should provide for appropriate treatment, recycling, reuse or disposal of the wastewater generated by them. This could be on the basis of a colony, co-operative group of houses or individual houses. The proposals should be cleared by the municipal and pollution control authorities who would also be responsible for monitoring after commissioning of the system.

2. Consent to establish to be made mandatory for new townships or residential colonies, on the line of industry.

3. Use of EIA/EMP tool for township and residential colonies also to be encouraged.

4. For new piped water supply project, corresponding capacity of sewage treatment in terms of Decentralized Treatment System (DTS) or augmentation of STP capacity should be associated as part of the project.

5. Special standards for DTS under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986/ the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 may be considered.

6. Provision for DTS by developers may find place in municipal bylaws and Municipal Act.

7. Town planning in respect of sewerage and drainage network should be planned in such a way that it has scope for DTS.

8. Decentralized treatment should form part of development plan for all new settlement programme.

9. The designers and builders for sewerage/drainage systems should be made responsible for the treatment & utilization of wastewaters on long-term basis.

10. AICTE may consider including courses on DTS, Diffused Pollution Control, Environmental Protection and Pollution Control Rules & regulations in Degree & Diploma curricula.

Economic Incentives for DTS

1. Price for water supply may have two components

a. for fresh water supply; and
b. for sewage treatment.
And the community which has DTS may be supplied water at lower cost.

2. The Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) should be made responsible for operation and maintenance (O & M) of DTS and should be given rebate in house tax.

3. In the absence of clear policy framework from the government for DTS and since the recycling of treated wastewater only partially meets the O & M costs, the onus of meeting the O & M costs rests with public/people who set up DTS in colonies. The government in such a situation should provide immediate rebate in property/house tax for those participating in DTS in order to promote DTS.

4. Land development charges levied has a component for sewerage network, which should be kept separate and be spent on DTS or centralized STP.

Demonstration Projects, Documentation and Dissemination

1. Demonstration plants using onsite DTS should be promoted/funded throughout the country for which progressive builders and Resident Welfare Associations may show the way.

2. Pilot and nodal schemes should be promoted by MOEF/CPCB.

3. The development authority like DDA may install DTS at two colonies. Based on the experience, policy may be made for implementation in other colonies in future.

4. Mass awareness and public participation needs to be promoted.

5. Documentation and dissemination of case studies/practical experiences need to be taken up on a wider scale.

6. Advertisement in Press and on Television, Radio for Environment friendly sewage treatment for all housing colonies should be planned in such a way that it has scope for DTS.

Technology and Operation & Maintenance

1. Sewage fed lakes/ponds in urban centers may be converted to DTS so that water quality of lakes and ponds are improved.

2. Proper operation and maintenance of DTS to increase the social acceptance.

3. 'Polluters Pay Principle' should be adopted for O & M of the treatment plants.

4. Segregation & reuse of wastewater at household level be encouraged.

5. Resource recovery like energy should be part of technology to make the system sustainable.

6. Technology selection should be on case-to-case basis and the Auroville, Themax & Panchsheel Club, Delhi experience can be useful.

7. The decentralized treatment plant construction and O & M responsibility should be given to specialist agencies that can take the responsibility for technology risk.

8. People who contribute wastewater should be a party right from planning, construction to operation & maintenance.