Planning for Reuse of Treated Wastewater at the State Level

March 20, 2025

The state of Uttar Pradesh generates 5,500 million litres per day (MLD), of which only 3,296 MLD is treated. With reuse concentrated in major cities, much of UP’s reuse potential is left untapped.

This report proposes a two-step prioritization framework— geographical and sectoral—to identify high-demand districts and key areas for intervention, such as domestic supply, industrial demand and agricultural support. With a matrix-driven decision model—which ensures that all relevant alternatives are considered and potential solutions not overlooked—it underscores the critical role of wastewater reuse to reduce groundwater dependence; address water scarcity; and promote sustainable, long-term water resilience in Uttar Pradesh. It can serve as a guidance framework for policymakers to optimize the reuse of treated wastewater, while addressing the state’s substantial water demand across domestic, industrial and agricultural sectors.