In India, water is increasingly being regarded as a strategic resource, essential for economic growth and industrial competitiveness. This challenge is particularly evident in Maharashtra, the home to Mumbai, India’s financial capital. Maharashtra hosts major automotive, petrochemical, pharmaceutical and manufacturing industries, as well as a rapidly growing network of data centres, all of which require substantial and reliable water supplies.

At the same time, the state faces recurring droughts and rising pressure on water resources. Every day, Maharashtra generates approximately 9.1 million cubic metres of municipal wastewater. However, only around 47 percent is currently treated, while merely 17 percent is reused. The remaining wastewater is discharged into rivers and ultimately the Arabian Sea. Meanwhile, industries continue to consume valuable freshwater resources that could be partially substituted by recycled water from modern treatment facilities.

To address this challenge, the Government of Maharashtra has adopted the Policy to Promote Circular Economy through Treatment and Reuse of Wastewater in Urban Areas. The policy covers all 424 urban local bodies across the state and requires municipalities to systematically plan and expand the reuse of treated wastewater.

Under the new framework, recycled water will be prioritized for thermal power plants, industrial facilities and agriculture. Municipalities are expected to generate new revenue streams through the sale of treated water, while businesses will benefit from a more reliable and predictable source of water, independent of fluctuating reservoir levels and monsoon rainfall. Maharashtra’s government presents the initiative not only as an environmental measure but also as an economic reform designed to secure long-term water availability for industrial growth and urban expansion.

The investment pipeline is significant. Mumbai alone plans to invest approximately USD 1.8 billion in the modernization and construction of wastewater treatment facilities. Similar projects are being developed in Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, Aurangabad and other major cities across the state. Additional financing is expected through the Maharashtra Urban Water Supply, Sanitation and Reuse Program, prepared in cooperation with the World Bank, which aims to strengthen water infrastructure and increase private-sector participation in water-treatment and reuse projects.

How Can Czechia Help?

As India invests heavily in water security and environmental infrastructure, Czech companies can contribute proven solutions in water treatment, environmental technologies, industrial automation and smart infrastructure. The greatest potential lies in advanced technologies, engineering expertise and smart solutions, areas where Czech companies have developed strong international capabilities.

Czechia has a long tradition in water management and environmental engineering. Czech firms can contribute technologies for secondary and tertiary wastewater treatment, membrane filtration, sludge treatment and dewatering, industrial pumping systems, and advanced process-control solutions. These technologies are directly relevant to Maharashtra’s plans to increase treatment capacity and maximize water reuse.

Another field where Czech expertise can provide significant value is digital water management. As operators seek to improve efficiency and reduce operating costs, demand is growing for solutions such as water-quality monitoring systems, smart sensors, automation technologies, predictive maintenance tools and energy-management platforms. Czech companies are well positioned to support the modernization of water infrastructure through these high-end technologies.