Tue Jan 06 18:41:23 UTC 2026: Headline: Chennai Grapples with Water Crisis, Turns to Recycling and Reuse
The Story:
Faced with persistent water stress, Chennai is intensifying efforts to manage its limited freshwater resources through recycling, reuse, and demand reduction. According to Gaurav Kumar, Executive Director of the CMWSSB, shifting industries, construction activities, and commercial establishments to treated wastewater is crucial. Speaking at The Hindu Sustainability Dialogue on January 7, 2026, Kumar highlighted the city’s underutilized water treatment capacity and the cost-effectiveness of treated wastewater compared to desalination. The discussion emphasized the need for individual responsibility in water conservation and technological advancements to improve water management efficiency.
Key Points:
* CMWSSB currently supplies about 1,313 million litres per day (mld) to the city, with only around 83 mld being treated water.
* Desalinated water costs ₹45 per kilolitre, while treated wastewater costs only ₹4–₹5 per kilolitre.
* Industries account for about 330 mld of Chennai’s daily water demand.
* If 50 lakh residents saved 1 litre of water per day, the city would save 5 mld.
* Universities can play a role in reducing water consumption, as demonstrated by SIMATS, which reduced freshwater consumption by nearly 20% through an on-campus sewage treatment plant designed and implemented by students and faculty.
* Chennai receives an average of 1,250 mm of rain annually, amounting to 50–60 TMC of water, while its annual requirement is only about 12 TMC.
Key Takeaways:
* Chennai’s water crisis necessitates a multi-pronged approach, including demand reduction, recycling, and reuse.
* Treated wastewater presents a cost-effective alternative to desalination for non-potable water needs.
* Industrial water usage is a significant factor in Chennai’s water stress, highlighting the importance of shifting industries to treated wastewater.
* Individual water conservation efforts, when scaled up, can make a substantial difference.
* Effective rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge strategies are essential to address Chennai’s flood-drought cycle.
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