Unlocking India’s Water and Waste Infrastructure: Gaps, Data, and Opportunity

India currently has approximately 1,300 operational sewage treatment plants, while China boasts 

between 20,000 and 30,000 such facilities—a disparity that highlights India’s significant infrastructural gap in wastewater management. This difference is particularly stark considering that India’s urban population is well over 480 million, producing an estimated 72,368 million liters per day (MLD) of sewage, yet only about 37% is actually treated before being released into the environment. By contrast, China’s robust infrastructure allows it to treat nearly 90% of urban sewage, significantly reducing environmental and public health risks.

This infrastructural deficit in India presents three major investment and development opportunities:

1. Sewage Treatment Plants: Expanding the number and capacity of sewage treatment facilities is critical. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reports that over 60% of sewage generated in India goes untreated, polluting rivers and harming ecosystems. The sector is poised for high growth as governmental schemes like Namami Gange and AMRUT focus on wastewater management. Estimates suggest India needs at least 10,000 more plants to meet current demand and comply with global norms.
2. Water Desalination Plants: With over 18% of the world’s population but just 4% of its freshwater resources, India faces acute water scarcity in many regions. Desalination offers a promising solution, especially for coastal cities like Chennai and Mumbai. While India currently has around 20 large desalination plants, China has over 1,000 operational plants with a combined capacity of over 1.5 million cubic meters per day. The potential for expansion is substantial, particularly as water stress worsens due to climate change and population growth.
3. Waste Recycling Plants: India generates over 62 million tonnes of solid waste annually, yet less than 30% is scientifically processed or recycled. In comparison, advanced economies like China and the European Union recycle or treat up to 80% of their waste. There is enormous scope for increasing the number of waste recycling plants—especially for plastic, e-waste, and organic waste—as new government rules and incentives encourage private participation and innovation.