Centre Launches Water Reuse Project.

Why in news?

• On World Water Day, Union minister for Jai Shakti launched a ‘Sujalam 2.0’ grey water recycling project.
• A staggering 31,000 million tonne of grey water a day is discharged by rural India alone, which is enough to tide over drought if evenly stored across the country.

About World Water Day:

• Held on 22nd March every year since 1993, it focuses on the importance of freshwater.
• 2022 theme is “Groundwater, making the invisible visible”.
• Grey water is defined as the wastewater that includes water from baths, showers, hand basins, washing machines, dishwashers and kitchen sinks, but excludes streams from toilets.
• More than 70 percent of freshwater across rural households in India gets converted to greywater.

Significance of grey water recycling:

• Can prevent potential harm to the environment.
• Can reduce the demand for freshwater.
• Reliable water resource as unlike rainwater harvesting, grey water is not dependent on unpredictable and variable rainfall.
• High nitrogen and phosphorus content when used in irrigation can make a good nutrient or fertiliser source.