Overview
Okhla Phase III is a major wastewater treatment plant in Delhi, India, serving over 1.35 million people. It operates under India's environmental regulations for large urban agglomerations.
Okhla Phase III is a large municipal wastewater treatment plant located on Mathura Road in the Sarita Vihar Tehsil of South East Delhi, India. Serving a population of approximately 1.35 million, it is one of the key facilities managing the capital's wastewater. The plant is operational and plays a critical role in the city's sanitation infrastructure. As a large agglomeration serving over 1.35 million people, the plant is expected to meet stringent treatment standards under India's Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines. Plants of this scale typically employ secondary or tertiary treatment to comply with discharge norms. The facility handles a substantial volume of wastewater from the densely populated region. The treated effluent from Okhla Phase III ultimately drains into the Yamuna River, a major tributary of the Ganges. The Yamuna is heavily impacted by urban and industrial discharges in the Delhi stretch, making the plant's performance crucial for downstream water quality and the ecological health of the Ganges basin. The facility contributes to reducing pollution loads in this sensitive river system.
Environmental context
Okhla Phase III discharges treated wastewater into the Yamuna River, which flows through Delhi and joins the Ganges at Prayagraj. The Yamuna in this stretch is classified as a heavily polluted water body due to high organic and nutrient loads from urban runoff and untreated sewage. The plant's operations are vital for maintaining minimum flow and reducing biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and fecal coliform levels, supporting aquatic life and downstream uses including irrigation and drinking water supply.
Frequently asked questions
Okhla Phase III is located on Mathura Road in the Sarita Vihar Tehsil of South East Delhi, India, with coordinates 28.546°N, 77.280°E.
Okhla Phase III serves approximately 1,352,942 people, making it a large-scale wastewater treatment plant for the Delhi urban agglomeration.
The treated effluent from Okhla Phase III is discharged into the Yamuna River, which flows through Delhi and is a major tributary of the Ganges.
As a large plant in India, Okhla Phase III operates under the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) standards, which mandate secondary or tertiary treatment for large agglomerations to protect the Yamuna River.
Plants of this scale in India typically employ secondary treatment (e. g. , activated sludge) followed by tertiary treatment such as filtration or disinfection to meet CPCB discharge norms for the Yamuna.
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