The document outlines several of India's most pressing water governance challenges, including valuing water, institutional structures, groundwater management, river basin management, climate change adaptation, demand management, and water circularity. Specifically, it discusses challenges around incentivizing water-efficient fittings and metering systems to reduce non-revenue water, as well as lack of policies for local reuse of treated wastewater and barriers to circular water systems. Opportunities mentioned include investment in decentralized wastewater treatment technologies.

1. The India Dialog 23-24 Feb 2023
- Siddharth Desai

2. The India Dialog 23-24 Feb 2023
Some of the most pressing water governance challenges facing the country are related to:
• Valuing water
• Institutional & administrative structures
• Management of groundwater use
• River basin management approach
• Data sufficiency & accuracy + decision mapping
• Climate change adaptation & water security
• Demand management measures
• Water circularity

3. The India Dialog 23-24 Feb 2023
Some of the most pressing water governance challenges facing the country are related to:
• Valuing water
• Institutional & administrative structures
• Management of groundwater use - Agriculture & cropping patterns
• River basin management approach
• Data sufficiency & accuracy + decision mapping
• Climate change adaptation & water security
• Demand management measures
• Water circularity

4. The India Dialog 23-24 Feb 2023
Demand management measures:
• Supply centric approach for meeting water demand
• Difficult for utilities to levy usage charges & realising the true value of water
• Non-revenue water (NRW) – physical & commercial losses + free authorised water
Challenges:
• Incentivisation for using water efficient fittings for all end use applications
• Investment in metering systems & geospatial technologies for reducing NRW
• User behaviour management to sensitise people to reduce avoidable wastage
Opportunities:

5. The India Dialog 23-24 Feb 2023
• Lack of comprehensive policy for recycle & reuse of used-water at local level
• Discharge regulation & technologies used create cost barriers for circularity
• Building codes promoting recycle & reuse of grey water not implemented in cities
Challenges:
• Defining scale & parameters of decentralised used-water treatment
• Tariff incentives for promoting use of treated used-water for construction & industry
• Investment in development of technologies suitable for decentralised treatment
Opportunities:
Water Circularity:

6. The India Dialog 23-24 Feb 2023
Thank you for your attention