PCMC fines housing societies over treated sewage reuse, but its own plants reuse only 11%

The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) is penalising housing societies for not reusing treated sewage, but its own sewage treatment plants reuse barely 11% of the water they treat. The gap emerges from the corporation's environment report. With concern over water scarcity in the city growing, it raises serious questions about the civic body's planning, accountability and intent to save water.

The administration wants housing societies to run their own sewage treatment plants (STPs) and use the treated water for gardens and other purposes. Its own record tells a different story. The corporation's 2024-25 environment report carries monthly figures for 14 treatment plants. According to these, a total of 8,670 million litres of treated water was released during the year, of which only 956 million litres was reused, or just 11.03%.

Put simply, for every 100 litres treated at these plants, only about 11 litres found another use. The records do not show the remaining 89 litres being reused. The gap stings more given the corporation's action against societies. In May 2026, it cut the water connections of 24 societies. Another 16 societies were fined Rs 10,000 each on charges of releasing untreated sewage.

Housing societies are angry at what they see as double standards. Many have spent lakhs of rupees on their own STPs. Society representatives say that when private plants are not run as prescribed, or reuse of treated water falls short, officials promptly issue notices and fines. They argue that the corporation should be held to the same standards it applies to residents.

Prajakta Rudrawar, president of the Ravet-Kiwale-Mamurdi Society Federation, said: "If societies are fined for not reusing treated sewage, why is only 11% being used at the corporation's own plants? The corporation wants citizens to follow the rules, but it should set an example itself. The administration should say what is stopping it from supplying treated water for gardens, industries and construction work."

Figures for individual plants also show a wide gap. The reuse rate at Chikhli Phase 2 is 53.82%, while at Akurdi it is only 4.11%. The two Chinchwad plants together released 1,147 million litres of treated water, of which only 66 million litres was reused. The question is why one plant can reuse more than half its water while another is stuck at barely 4%. The corporation should present a plan with separate targets and timelines for each plant.

Pramod Ombase, the corporation's chief engineer, said the corporation's sewage treatment plants are reusing treated water. Some of it has been supplied to military areas in Dehu Road and Dighi, and private companies also take treated water for their own use. He said sewage is being treated according to each plant's available capacity and that work to increase treatment capacity is under way.

Plant-wise figures (in million litres, based on the environment report) are as follows. Charholi, both phases: 929 released and 66 reused. Chikhli, both phases: 699 and 217. Chinchwad, both phases: 1,147 and 66. Dapodi: 488 and 35. Kasarwadi, all three phases: 3,458 and 444. Pimple Nilakh: 437 and 32. Ravet: 509 and 32. Sangvi: 224 and 32. Akurdi: 779 and 32. Of a total of 8,670, 956 was reused, a rate of 11.03%.