In Mumbai, India, one of the largest airports in the country has become a leader in water conservation within the aviation industry. In order to conserve potable drinking water, the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) is utilizing treated effluent from the airports three sewage treatment plants to reduce the airport’s demand on the region’s dwindling potable water supplies. [1]
As part of a long awaited expansion plan in 2011, the airport contracted a wastewater recycling project to help offset the growing potable water demands of the airport. To date, the CSIA is capable of recycling 25 percent of water used by every passenger. Treated effluent from the airport’s three sewage plants is used to displace potable water in non-potable applications such as toilet flushing in terminals, make-up water to chiller plants, and irrigating landscaped areas surrounding the airport. [1]
In recent years, India has faced numerous environmental hurdles relating to raw sewage disposal and an increasing shortage of available fresh water. In a recent report by the World Resources Institute, more than 54% of India faces high to extremely high water stress, and by 2030, the country’s available water supply is expected to fall 50% below demand. [2]
With the country’s water crisis firmly in the minds of the Indian people, the MIAL celebrated the importance of the airport’s efforts, stating “Fresh water is required for airport activities such as concessioners, cooking, drinking, and cooling. We can’t substitute the fresh water requirement by treated sewage totally, but fresh water requirements in some activities, such as toilet flushing, gardening and cooling in HVAC can be substituted by treated sewage.
Published 6/29/2016
[1] Jain, Sanket. ‘Mumbai airport recycling 25% of the water used by every passenger’. The Indian Express, June 7, 2016. Web. http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/chhatrapati-shivaji-international-airport-csia-mumbai-airport-recycling-25-of-the-water-used-by-every-passenger-2838259/ [2] Dutta, Saptarishi. India is already facing a water crisis—and it is only going to get worse. Quartz India, March 3, 2015. Web. http://qz.com/353707/india-is-already-facing-a-water-crisis-and-it-is-only-going-to-get-worse/