Special meeting of builders and architects undertaken by NMMC
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- Christopher Rodrigues
- 18 Feb, 2025
The meeting was held to push for use of recycled water for construction
In a major push for sustainable urban development, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has taken a proactive step to conserve potable water by encouraging the use of tertiary treated water in construction and industrial activities.
A special meeting was organised at the Knowledge Centre of the NMMC headquarters under the guidance of Municipal Commissioner Dr. Kailas Shinde, where builders, architects, and civil contractors gathered to discuss the mandatory shift towards using recycled water instead of drinking water in construction projects.
With rapid redevelopment and infrastructure expansion in Navi Mumbai, the demand for potable water is soaring. However, unpredictable rainfall patterns and increasing water consumption have raised concerns about potential shortages. To mitigate this, NMMC has issued a circular on 12 February 2025, urging developers to adopt tertiary treated water for construction purposes.
During the meeting, Deputy Director of Town Planning, Somnath Kekane, stressed that integrating recycled water into construction and industrial sectors would reduce pressure on the city’s potable water supply while reinforcing Navi Mumbai’s position as a leader in sustainable urban planning.
Additional City Engineer, Arvind Shinde, provided a detailed insight into NMMC’s water supply system, focusing on the role of advanced sewage treatment plants (STPs) in conserving drinking water. He noted that NMMC operates seven state-of-the-art STPs, where sewage water is purified and repurposed for non-potable uses, including gardening, landscaping, and irrigation in housing societies.
Furthermore, he highlighted that two tertiary treatment plants in Koparkhairane and Airoli, each with a capacity of 20 million litres per day (MLD), are already supplying recycled water to 55 industries in the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) area. With agreements in place, efforts are underway to expand this supply to more industrial units. Additionally, 11 Ready-Mix Concrete (RMC) plants in the MIDC region are already utilising tertiary treated water, significantly reducing their reliance on fresh water.
The rising urban population and increasing construction projects in Navi Mumbai have made potable water conservation a top priority. With several redevelopment projects underway on private and public land, thousands of litres of drinking water are being consumed daily in construction. Recognising this challenge, the municipal corporation has now made it mandatory for developers to switch to tertiary treated water.
This policy shift is seen as a crucial intervention to protect Navi Mumbai’s water resources and mitigate future water crises. Officials emphasised that drinking water must be reserved for households and essential use, while construction activities must rely on treated wastewater.
During the meeting, builders, architects, and municipal contractors were urged to view the use of recycled water as part of their corporate social responsibility. "The response was overwhelmingly positive, with developers expressing strong support for the new regulations", stated Kekane.