Bengaluru plans 17 new sewage treatment plants to address wastewater management needs

Bengaluru is set to tackle its growing wastewater treatment needs with plans for 17 new Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) announced.

With a combined capacity of 583 million litres per day (MLD), the proposed plants aim to address a shortfall in treatment capacity. The project, estimated to cost ₹2,200–₹2,400 crore, is part of the city’s efforts to manage its rising water demands sustainably.

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Currently, BWSSB supplies 2,225 MLD of water daily from the Cauvery River, 85–90% of which is discharged as wastewater. The city operates 33 STPs with a combined capacity of 1,381 MLD but requires an additional 907 MLD of treatment capacity.

Key proposed locations include Madiwala (75 MLD), Kadubeesanahalli (50 MLD), Kadugodi (20 MLD), Koramangala (20 MLD), and Basavanapura (10 MLD). Larger facilities are planned for Bellandur (60 MLD), Mailasandra (100 MLD), and Doddabele (100 MLD).

BWSSB officials highlighted that wastewater generation has surged following the implementation of the Cauvery Stage V project, which added 775 MLD of water supply to the city, raising total wastewater production to 2,200 MLD.

Of the 1,212 MLD treated currently, 750 MLD is reused for industrial and irrigation purposes, including at Lalbagh and Cubbon Park. Plans also include supplying treated water to rejuvenate 145 lakes and extend pipelines to industrial zones.

The BWSSB’s proposals, aimed at ensuring sustainable water management, will soon be submitted for government approval.