The newly elected chief minister of New Delhi, India Arvind Kejriwal has now inaugurated Toilet-to-tap initiative. Delhiites (Common term used for the people of Delhi)  will soon be able to drink water derived from sewage if they want, with the Delhi Jal Board.

Countries like Singapore and USA have been treating sewage water and have made them fit for drinking. Mr. Kejriwal, among those who drank the treated water, said since 50 per cent of Delhi is not connected to the sewer network and 81 per cent has piped water supply, the government was looking at alternatives.

The plant at Keshopur works by screening raw sewage and then pumping it to a biofilter, which is made of five layers of organic and inorganic materials like earthworms, cotton extracts, bacteria, organic sand, pebbles and stones. Then, the treated sewage is pumped into the membrane system, where it is chlorinated. This leaves the water fit for drinking.The plant is powered by solar energy, reducing operating costs and boosting its green quotient. Though the plant has the capacity to produce 25 million litres a year and 66,000 litres a day, it is yet to stabilise.

It costs Rs 55 lakh and filters around 5,000 litres of sewage every hour to give an output of 4000 litres per hour. I personally believe that this one great step Delhi has taken to recycle sewage water and make it fit for drinking.

Bibliography: Hindustan Times, Times of India