Chikali Phase I Wastewater Treatment Plant, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Maharashtra

Chikali Phase I is a wastewater treatment plant located in Pimpri-Chinchwad, a major industrial and residential suburb of Pune in Maharashtra, India. The plant serves a population of approximately 106,899, placing it in the category of a large agglomeration under Indian urban wastewater management standards. Its location on Spine Road in the Sudershan Nagar area positions it within the rapidly urbanizing Pune metropolitan region, which has seen significant infrastructure development to address growing wastewater treatment needs. As a plant serving over 100,000 people, Chikali Phase I is expected to meet the treatment standards set by India's Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. For large urban agglomerations, secondary treatment is typically required, with tertiary treatment increasingly mandated for discharge into sensitive water bodies. The treated effluent from Chikali Phase I likely discharges into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Mula-Mutha river system, which flows through Pune and ultimately joins the Bhima River, a tributary of the Krishna River. The Krishna River basin supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and provides water for agriculture and drinking downstream. Proper treatment at this plant helps reduce pollution loads in this important river system, protecting both ecological health and downstream water users.

Chikali Phase I discharges into the Mula-Mutha river system, which flows through Pune and joins the Bhima River, a major tributary of the Krishna River. The Krishna River basin is ecologically significant, supporting diverse aquatic life and providing water for irrigation and domestic use across Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. Effective wastewater treatment at this plant helps mitigate nutrient and pathogen pollution, safeguarding downstream ecosystems and communities that depend on the river.