River rejuvenation in urban India for enhancing living conditions through integrated water resources management.

Abstract

India, being a developing country, faces big challenges in ensuring water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) for all. This case study presents the performance evaluation of a large wastewater management and sanitation-related infrastructure in a metropolitan city in North India. "Dravyavati River Project" is the major sanitation program of the water-stressed Jaipur city based on the concept of river rejuvenation of the long-lost Dravyavati River which flows across the city. The project envisages integrated urban water management such that it aims at the collection and treatment of wastewater (sewage network and treatment plants), safe disposal, ensuring continuous unpolluted flow, geological and ecological integrity to strengthen public health, to reduce the impact of water stress on the total water cycle by promoting groundwater recharge, and improvement in biodiversity. The technical assessment is based on the primary and secondary data collection of field samples and laboratory analysis of influent and effluent samples collected from the five sewage treatment plants (STPs). The results suggest that the project has largely delivered the envisaged environment, public well-being, and ecological and socioeconomic benefits, but there are substantial gaps in the conceived outputs and actual performance. The challenge lies in bridging these gaps and overcoming operational inefficiencies to ensure the sustainability of the Dravyavati River rejuvenation.