Maharashtra’s growing water crisis has highlighted the need to turn wastewater reuse policies into effective action as drought conditions inadequate sewage treatment and weak implementation continue to put pressure on the state water resources.
In early September 2026, around 265 talukas, nearly 74 per cent of Maharashtra, were declared drought-hit following one of the driest monsoons in years. In response, the state government directed urban and rural local bodies to implement a 10 per cent water cut from October 16, 2026 and prepare dam wise and usage wise water plans to manage supplies until August 31, 2027.
The government has also emphasised the reuse of treated wastewater for activities such as gardening, construction and industrial operations. However, despite several policies aimed at improving water management, Maharashtra continues to face significant gaps in sewage treatment, funding, implementation and institutional accountability.
According to the figures cited in the report, the state treats only 57 per cent of the wastewater it generates, while just 17 per cent is reused. Large quantities of untreated sewage continue to enter rivers, lakes and drainage systems, reducing the availability of usable water.
Unplanned urbanisation and industrial growth have intensified pressure on water resources. Areas around Pune and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region increasingly depend on borewells and private water tankers where piped supplies are inadequate. This has placed additional pressure on groundwater reserves, particularly in hard-rock aquifers.
Declining groundwater levels have also been observed in industrial areas such as the Thane Belapur corridor, Chakan and the fringes of Pimpri Chinchwad. Informal settlements in Mumbai, Solapur and Aurangabad continue to rely on hand pumps and borewells.
The problem extends beyond groundwater over-extraction. Large volumes of wastewater remain unaccounted for because cities often fail to treat all the sewage they generate. Untreated flows then pollute nearby waterbodies and rivers further reducing the supply of clean water.
Maharashtra has introduced several measures to address these challenges, including the Maharashtra State Water Policy, 2019, the Maharashtra Groundwater (Development and Management) Act, 2009, and the Safe Reuse and Management of Treated Wastewater Policy, 2025.
In October 2025, the state Cabinet also approved a circular water economy policy mandating sewage and wastewater reuse across 424 urban local bodies. The policy envisages using treated wastewater in thermal power plants, industries, urban non-drinking applications and irrigation. The Urban Development Department approved a budget of Rs 5 billion, with a focus on large water users.
However, implementation remains a major challenge. The 2019 state water policy calls for a minimum 30 per cent wastewater reuse in urban local bodies but cities need clearer operational guidelines and reliable funding to meet the target. Inadequate financial support can also affect the construction, operation and maintenance of sewage treatment plants, resulting in poor treatment and continued pollution.
Overlapping responsibilities among government agencies and regulators may further delay action. A 2024 report by the Centre for Water and Sanitation at CEPT University highlighted the roles of both the Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority and the State Pollution Control Board in wastewater treatment quality and sanitation.
The report also highlights the need to reduce water losses in distribution networks. Major cities increasingly depend on distant water sources, with Mumbai drawing supplies from sources located up to 180 kilometres away. Long pipelines can increase leakage and distribution losses, while some of the city’s pipelines are more than a century old.
Studies cited in the report indicate that leakage losses in large Maharashtra cities range between 30 and 40 per cent. Mumbai has been reported to lose around 34 per cent of its water through physical leakage, distribution losses and theft.
Experts have called for cities to strengthen local water management by restoring wetlands and rivers, improving aquifer recharge and making better use of nearby water sources. Reducing distribution losses could also help cities conserve existing supplies rather than relying increasingly on distant reservoirs.
Informal settlements and peri-urban areas require particular attention. In Mumbai, slums cover around 24 per cent of the city’s area and house approximately half its population, according to a 2026 report by the Slum Rehabilitation Authority.
Many residents in these areas depend on standposts, borewells, hand pumps and private tankers because piped water supplies are unreliable or inadequate. A 2022 study by researchers at the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Hyderabad, found that residents of some Mumbai slums continued to report poor water quality and insufficient supply hours despite having access to piped connections.
These informal sources also complicate estimates of wastewater generation. Water utilities often estimate sewage volumes using a standard assumption that 80 per cent of supplied water becomes wastewater. However, this method may overlook water drawn from private tankers and borewells.
Septage management is another concern. Several peri urban areas around Pune rely on septic tanks, and reports have documented desludging tankers dumping raw sewage into the Mula, Mutha and Pawana rivers. Media reports have also highlighted illegal sludge dumping along the banks of the Nandini river in Nashik.
Such practices pollute water sources and reduce the amount of water available for use, reinforcing the need for stronger monitoring and enforcement.
An April 2026 note submitted to the National Green Tribunal on Maharashtra’s compliance reported that the state generates around 9,073 million litres of wastewater per day, of which only 57 per cent is treated. It also highlighted that wastewater generated through groundwater use is frequently not accounted for.
The report argues that wastewater reuse cannot expand significantly unless more sewage reaches functioning treatment plants and the quality of treated water is reliably monitored. Large residential complexes, institutions and other bulk wastewater generators could play a greater role by reusing treated water for flushing and gardening. They could also supply treated wastewater to nearby users, reducing demand for freshwater.
Although Maharashtra has examples of successful wastewater reuse, experts say these initiatives need to be expanded. Better funding, clearer institutional responsibilities, stronger regulation and more inclusive water planning will be essential to address the state’s growing water stress.
The crisis demonstrates that wastewater reuse must become a practical component of urban and rural water management rather than remaining primarily a policy commitment.