STP Sharabai Bhuntar - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Kalaihli, Himachal Pradesh

STP Sharabai Bhuntar is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Kalaihli, a locality within Bhuntar in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, India. The plant serves a population of approximately 3,073 people, reflecting its role in managing domestic wastewater for this small community in the Himalayan foothills. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment stage that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 460 cubic meters per day and a reported discharge volume of 460 cubic meters per day, the plant operates at full capacity. In India, wastewater treatment plants of this scale are typically regulated under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and must comply with effluent standards set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board. The treated effluent from STP Sharabai Bhuntar is likely discharged into a local watercourse that eventually drains into the Beas River, a major river in Himachal Pradesh that flows through the Kullu Valley. The Beas River is a vital water resource for the region, supporting agriculture, drinking water, and aquatic ecosystems. The plant's operation helps protect the river from untreated sewage, preserving water quality for downstream communities and biodiversity.

The plant discharges treated wastewater into a local stream that flows into the Beas River, a key tributary of the Indus River system. The Beas River supports diverse aquatic life, including the endangered golden mahseer, and provides water for irrigation and domestic use in the Kullu Valley. Proper treatment at this plant helps maintain the ecological health of the river and its downstream environments.