Airoli Wastewater Treatment Plant, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

The Airoli wastewater treatment plant is located in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, serving a population of approximately 534,496. It is situated in the Thane district and is part of the municipal infrastructure for the rapidly growing Navi Mumbai region. The plant is operational and has a designed capacity of 1.00 million cubic meters per day, indicating it is a large-scale facility. As a major treatment plant in India, it operates under the national regulatory framework, which includes the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Environment Protection Act, 1986. For a plant serving over 500,000 people, advanced treatment is typically required to meet discharge standards, especially in sensitive areas. It likely includes secondary or tertiary treatment to comply with Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) norms. The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies that eventually drain into the Ulhas River and then into the Arabian Sea. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting the Thane Creek and the coastal ecosystem of the Arabian Sea from untreated sewage. Its operation helps maintain water quality in the densely populated Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

The Airoli plant discharges into the Ulhas River basin, which flows into Thane Creek and ultimately the Arabian Sea. This coastal region supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for birds. The plant's effluent management is critical to preventing eutrophication and maintaining the health of the mangrove ecosystems along the coast.