Central Pollution Control Board Standards for Sewage Treatment Plants

Sewage Treatment Regulations in India—Central Guidelines:

The Central Pollution Control Board of India has developed a comprehensive and detailed framework for the setting up, operation, and maintenance of Sewage Treatment Plants in the country. These regulations are essential to promote sustainable urban development, proper sewage management, and public health by reducing environmental pollution caused by untreated wastewater. The guidelines by the CPCB are structured to meet the challenges of fast urbanization, increasing populations, and growing demands for water. With the framework set by the CPCB, landmark orders by the National Green Tribunal are designed to strengthen compliance with such essential norms and ensure that each stakeholder, whether a municipality an industry real estate developer or an educational institution, adheres to prescribed standards. United in their efforts, both CPCB and NGT aim to promote environmentally responsible practices, improve water resource management, and propel India's long-term aspirations for sustainable development and ecological harmony. As per the CPCB legislative regulation, numerous infrastructures like apartments, commercial construction projects, educational institutions, townships, and area development projects establishing new constructions and requiring adequate conditions to have sewage treatment plants are mandatory as mentioned above. The guideline regulations cover matters like the STP site, the type of STP technology to use, the functioning of STP, and the manner of maintaining STP to guarantee the efficient and safe operation of the machinery.

Our Products

The HECS Ultima Series Packaged Sewage Treatment Plant provides modern wastewater management solutions. These advanced STPs efficiently serve residential, commercial and industrial wastewater treatment needs.

The HECS Amaze MBR Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) demonstrates advanced wastewater processing using innovative Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) technology and intelligent control technologies. It serves a variety of applications in residential complexes, corporate centers, and manufacturing facilities, providing compliant treatment solutions while allowing for water recycling. The integrated HECS SmartHub App offers real-time monitoring and control, hence improving operational performance and user accessibility.

HECS MediClear Packaged Effluent Treatment Plant (PETP) offers advanced medical wastewater treatment for hospitals. This innovative system effectively processes wastewater from laboratories, operating rooms, autoclaves, and disinfectants, ensuring safe disposal while meeting regulatory standards for medical effluent treatment.

HECS is experienced in providing reliable and ecologically friendly wastewater treatment solutions that meet a range of industrial and environmental needs. Our Customized Packaged Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) combine space-efficient design, simple operation, and sophisticated processing capabilities.

HECS provides modern Residential Sewage Treatment Plants for residential usage, ensuring efficient wastewater management and sustainable living solutions.

HECS offers technological advances Industrial Sewage Treatment Plants for industrial use, offering efficient wastewater management and environmentally sustainable solutions.

CPCB

HECS Packaged Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) align perfectly with the guidelines of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and are a perfect solution for urban and rural wastewater management. Designed to meet strict regulatory standards, HECS-packaged STPs provide a compact, efficient, and eco-friendly way of treating sewage for apartments, commercial buildings, educational institutions, and other infrastructure projects.

With advanced technology, minimal operational requirements, and strong durability, HECS-packaged STPs will ensure compliance with environmental norms, thereby reducing the impact of untreated wastewater on natural resources. Due to their modular design, the installation, operation, and maintenance of HECS-packaged STPs are hassle-free, ensuring a reliable sustainable solution for stakeholders.

These packaged systems are not only designed to meet CPCB discharge requirements but also consider critical issues, such as site suitability, type of technology, functionality, and maintenance. Through the selection of HECS Packaged STPs, developers and policymakers can positively contribute to environmental conservation and development in a sustainable society.

A Guide to CPCB Regulations for Sewage Treatment Plants

1. The Technology of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs)



The approved STP technologies to go with are-

  • A. Activated Sludge Process(ASP) (only when above 500 KLD sewage is generated).
  • B. Membrane Bio Reactor(MBR)
  • C. Moving Bed Bio Reactor(MBBR)

2. Key Requirements for STP Units

S.No.UnitActivated Sludge Process(ASP)Sequential Batch Reactor(SBR)Membrane Bio Reactor(MBR)Moving Bed Bio Reactor(MBBR)
1Equalization TankMinimum holding period of 8 hours.Same as ASPSame as ASPSame as ASP
2Anoxic TankReturn-activated sludge should be pumped into an anoxic tank for de-nitrification.Not requiredSame as ASPSame as ASP
3Aeration TankDissolved Oxygen over 4 mg/L has to be maintained in the Aeration Tank.Same as ASPSame as ASPSame as ASP
4Membrane TankNot requiredNot requiredMembranes should be replaced regularly as per the manufacturer’s specificationsNot required
5Sludge Holding TankSludge holding should be mandatory to hold excess sludge before it dewaters.Same as ASPSame as ASPSame as ASP
6Final Treated Water Holding TankThe capacity of the tank should be enough to hold water for 2 days minimum.Same as ASPSame as ASPSame as ASP
7Sludge Drying Bed-For>500 KLD STPs,a horizontal centrifuge system should be used.
-For<500 KLD STPs,a belt press or screw press system should be used.
Same as ASPSame as ASPSame as ASP

3 . Mechanical Equipment Requirements for Sewage Treatment Plants (STP)

The Bar Screen Chamber and Oil & Grease Chamber of STPs installed ideally should be quite prominently and easily accessible.
Besides, the equipment should be able to be submerged in water and, if possible, can easily be disassembled for repair at any one time. To reduce noise pollution the STP air blower should have vibration mounts and acoustic enclosures which should be correctly designed.

4. Location Requirements for Sewage Treatment Plants (STP)

 A lot of attention should be paid to guaranteeing that such placement would not interfere with the comfort of the residents or even the convenience of accessing their facilities. Hence, it is still crucial that STPs are installed below driveways, play areas, or clubhouses to avoid inconvenience to residents and must be located away from residential areas. Also, STPs cannot be located in any building’s basement for the possibility of rain flooding, bad smells, or noise interferences but they can be situated in apartment basements if the area is limited. From the STP room, access to the ground or upper basement should be well-made pathways/headroom, rather than the access facility created from the lowest basement to increase its accessibility with less structural interferences.

 

5. Standards for Treated Sewage Quality in India

The treated sewage should meet the following standards.

Parameter

Required Standards

pH

6.5–8.5

BOD (5th day)

<10 mg/L

COD

<50 mg/L

Suspended Solids

<10 mg/L

Ammonical Nitrogen

<5 mg/L

Total Nitrogen

<5 mg/L

Fecal Coliform

<100 MPN/100 mL

.

6. Sensor Installation Guidelines for Monitoring Treated Sewage Quality 

Sensors for monitoring sewage parameters such as BOD, COD, TSS, flow, and pH are required. The following are the CPCB’s suggested sensor types and communication protocols.

ParameterMeasurement TypeSensor TypeCommunication Protocol
pHInlineIon Selective Glass ElectrodesRS 485 Communication with Modbus
TSSInlineTurbidity to TSS correlation with Nephelo metric techniqueRS 485 Communication with Modbus
BODInlineUV-Vis Spectrophotometry & combustion (Double beam with entire spectrum scanning)RS 485 Communication with Modbus
CODInlineUV-Vis Spectrophotometry & combustion (Double beam with entire spectrum scanning)RS 485 Communication with Modbus
FlowInlineElectromagnetic Flow MeasurementRS 485 Communication with Modbus


7. STP’s Caution Board Guidelines

Appropriate warning signs should be displayed where STP is to be implemented, and certain guidelines should be followed. The “Danger” Sign Boards must be installed in the STP area for the maintenance personnel and the community residents.

The phrase “water not appropriate for drinking” should also be marked on the taps providing sewage water.


8. Use of Treated sewage

The treated water should be used for toilet flushing, which should be done with a dual plumbing system.

 

9. Modular Operations Of Sewage Treatment Plants (STP)

Modular-based STPs should be developed/constructed so that they can be used depending on the load or number of people in them. The occupancy in the initial stages of large-scale projects for which higher capacity of STPs is needed is incapable of meeting the operational standards of the STP. Therefore, this element should be taken into account during the design process.

10) Waste Water Generation Standards

S.No.IndustryQuantum
1Integrated Iron&Steel16 m³/tonne of finished steel
2Sugar0.4 m³/tonne of cane crushed
3Pulp&Paper Industries 
 (a)Larger Pulp&Paper 
 (i)Pulp&Paper175 m³/tonne of paper produced
 (ii)Viscose Staple Fibre150 m³/tonne of product
 (iii)Viscose Filament Yarn500 m³/tonne of product
 (b)Small Pulp&Paper 
 (i)Agro residue-based150 m³/tonne of paper produced
 (ii)Waste paper-based50 m³/tonne of paper produced
4Fermentation Industries 
 (a)Maltry3.5 m³/tonne of grain produced
 (b)Brewery0.25 m³/KL of beer produced
 (c)Distillery12 m³/KL of alcohol produced
5Caustic Soda 
 (a)Membrane cell process1 m³/tonne of caustic soda produced(excluding cooling tower blowdown)
 (b)Mercury cell process4 m³/tonne of caustic soda produced(mercury bearing;10%blowdown permitted for cooling tower)
6Textile Industries 
 Man-made Fibre 
 (i)Nylon&Polyester120 m³/tonne of fibre produced
 (ii)Viscose Rayon150 m³/tonne of product
7Tanneries28 m³/tonne of raw hide
8Starch,Glucose,and related products8 m³/tonne of maize crushed
9Dairy3 m³/KL of milk
10Natural Rubber Processing Industry4 m³/tonne of rubber
11Fertilizer 
 (a)Straight Nitrogenous Fertilizer5 m³/tonne of urea or equivalent produced
 (b)Straight Phosphatic Fertilizer(SSP&TSP,excluding manufacture of any acid)0.5 m³/tonne of SSP/TSP

For further details on sewage treatment plant regulations and standards, we recommend consulting with the HECS Sales Experts.Our experts can provide personalized guidance and the latest updates on environmental regulations in India.

Frequently Asked Questions​​

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is a government body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. It was established in 1974 to control and prevent pollution in India. CPCB sets environmental standards, monitors air and water quality, and enforces pollution control laws.

The CPCB is a statutory organization under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. It plays a crucial role in preventing and controlling pollution by setting standards, monitoring air and water quality, and enforcing regulations to protect the environment.

The CPCB provides comprehensive guidelines for the management of various types of waste, including hazardous, biomedical, electronic, and plastic waste. These guidelines outline procedures for collection, segregation, transportation, treatment, and disposal to minimize environmental impact.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) operates at the national level, overseeing pollution control policies and standards across India. In contrast, the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) function at the state level, implementing and enforcing these policies locally. SPCBs work under the guidance of CPCB to ensure state-level compliance with environmental laws.

CPCB monitors air quality through the National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP), which tracks key pollutants across multiple stations in India. For water, it operates the National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWMP), analyzing water bodies for pollutants to ensure they meet prescribed standards. This data helps in assessing pollution levels and enforcing corrective measures.

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Manufacturing Facility

Spread over a 2.5 Acres at Sriperumbadur (Chennai), The HECS Manufacturing Facility is a cornerstone of the company's operations. It is dedicated to manufacturing HECS Packaged Waste Water Treatment Systems with a capacity of over 600 units / year. This facility is renowned for its precision and quality, utilising Fibreglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) technology to construct robust and efficient treatment systems. its state-of-the-art infrastructure and skilled workforce enable the production of advanced sewage and effluent treatment solutions that meet both national and international standards. The unit is equipped with the latest equipments or manufacturing process. A key aspect of the facility's operation is its capacity to support significant export activities. With a strong emphasis on global standards and compliance, HECS ensures that its products are not only suitable for local markets but are also competitive in the international arena.

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New CPCB Regulations and Standards for Sewage Treatment Plants