Micro sewage treatment plants, dept-wise measures proposed to check froth in river – Tribune India

Report on the Yamuna River Pollution Strategy and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Introduction: A Strategic Approach to Urban Water Management

In response to a directive from the Delhi government, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) has formulated a comprehensive strategy to address the persistent issue of frothing in the Yamuna River. This phenomenon is a critical indicator of severe water pollution, and the new strategy aims to provide actionable, department-specific recommendations. This initiative directly supports the achievement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning water quality, sustainable cities, and ecosystem health.

Primary Pollution Sources and Contradiction to SDG 6

A study commissioned by the Delhi government and conducted by TERI has identified the principal contributors to the river’s degradation. These findings highlight significant challenges to achieving SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

• Untreated Sewage: Effluent from unauthorized colonies and informal settlements is a primary pollutant, directly contravening Target 6.3, which calls for improving water quality by halving the proportion of untreated wastewater.
• Industrial Effluents: The discharge of mixed industrial waste further compromises water quality, working against SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, specifically Target 12.4 regarding the environmentally sound management of chemicals and wastes.
• Dhobi Ghats: Open laundries contribute significantly to the pollutant load, releasing surfactants into the river system.

Aggravating Factors and Impact on Ecosystems (SDG 15)

The report also identifies natural elements that exacerbate the pollution problem, impacting local biodiversity and the health of the river ecosystem, a key concern of SDG 15: Life on Land.

• Water Hyacinth: This invasive species releases biosurfactants, such as saponins, which intensify froth formation.
• Turbulence: During periods of rainfall, increased water turbulence mixes these pollutants, leading to more visible and widespread frothing.

This degradation of a vital freshwater ecosystem directly undermines Target 15.1, which focuses on the conservation and restoration of freshwater ecosystems and their services.

Strategic Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

The forthcoming strategy represents a multi-faceted approach to urban environmental management, aligning with a broad spectrum of SDGs through its proposed interventions.

1. SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): The core objective is to improve the Yamuna’s water quality by tackling pollution at its source, thereby advancing progress towards clean water for all.
2. SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): By addressing wastewater management from urban settlements, the plan contributes to Target 11.6, which aims to reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities.
3. SDG 15 (Life on Land): Successful implementation will lead to the restoration of the Yamuna’s freshwater ecosystem, protecting biodiversity and vital ecosystem services.
4. SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The collaboration between the Delhi government and TERI exemplifies the multi-stakeholder partnerships essential for achieving sustainable development objectives.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

Detailed Explanation:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
  
  This goal is directly addressed as the central theme of the article is the “poor water quality” of the Yamuna river. The article explicitly mentions key challenges related to this goal, such as “untreated sewage” and “mixed industrial effluents” polluting the river, leading to visible signs like frothing. The entire effort by TERI is aimed at tackling water pollution, which is a core component of SDG 6.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
  
  The article connects the river’s pollution directly to urban issues. It identifies the sources of pollution as originating from “unauthorised colonies and informal settlements” within the city of Delhi. This highlights a failure in urban planning and waste management, which is a key concern of SDG 11, specifically regarding the environmental impact of cities.
• SDG 14: Life Below Water
  
  Although not explicitly mentioned, severe river pollution as described in the article has a direct and detrimental impact on aquatic ecosystems. The discharge of untreated sewage and industrial effluents degrades the habitat and threatens the survival of aquatic life in the Yamuna river, making this goal highly relevant. The mention of “water hyacinth” also points to an imbalance in the aquatic ecosystem.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Detailed Explanation:

• Target 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution
  
  The article’s focus on developing a “comprehensive strategy to tackle frothing in the Yamuna” is a direct effort to improve water quality. The study aims to identify “major pollution sources” like “untreated sewage” and “industrial effluents” with the goal of mitigating them. This aligns perfectly with the target’s aim to reduce pollution and halve the proportion of untreated wastewater.
• Target 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities
  
  The article specifies that a primary contributor to the pollution is “untreated sewage from unauthorised colonies and informal settlements.” This points to a problem with municipal waste management within the city of Delhi. By seeking to address this source of pollution, the initiative described in the article contributes to reducing the city’s adverse environmental impact, which is the core objective of Target 11.6.
• Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.
  
  The Yamuna river is a land-based source of pollution that eventually flows into larger water bodies. The pollutants mentioned, such as “untreated sewage” and “industrial effluents,” contribute directly to the nutrient pollution of downstream ecosystems. Tackling these land-based activities is the primary focus of this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Detailed Explanation:

• Implied Indicator for Target 6.3: Proportion of wastewater safely treated.
  
  The article identifies “untreated sewage” as a primary cause of pollution. Therefore, a key metric for measuring progress would be the increase in the volume and proportion of sewage from “unauthorised colonies and informal settlements” and “dhobi ghats” that is collected and treated before being discharged into the river. This directly relates to the official SDG indicator 6.3.1.
• Implied Indicator for Target 6.3: Ambient water quality.
  
  The article states that frothing is a “visible sign of the river’s poor water quality.” A reduction in the frequency and intensity of frothing events would serve as a direct, visible indicator of improved water quality. Furthermore, scientific measurement of pollutants like biosurfactants, saponins, and industrial chemicals in the river water would provide a quantitative measure of progress.
• Implied Indicator for Target 11.6: Proportion of urban population with access to effective wastewater management.
  
  Since the pollution originates from “unauthorised colonies and informal settlements,” an indicator of progress would be the percentage of the population in these specific urban areas that is connected to a functional sewage treatment system. This would measure the effectiveness of the city’s waste management infrastructure in covering all its residents, including those in informal settlements.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: tribuneindia.com