Kailash Narayan,
Himank Sharma,
Abstract
India is facing mounting challenges in water availability and quality due to rapid urbanization, industrial growth, climate change, and population pressure. Over the past decade, significant advances have been made in water treatment technologies, driven by increasing demand, stricter environmental regulations, and the need for sustainable solutions. This review critically examines recent technological innovations in water treatment, including membrane-based filtration, advanced oxidation processes, decentralized systems, and nature-based solutions, with a specific focus on their application and scalability in the Indian context. It also evaluates national water policies and government programs such as the Jal Jeevan Mission, National Water Policy (2012), and the Draft National Water Framework Bill (2016), analyzing their impact on the implementation of water treatment infrastructure and sustainable management practices. Despite advancements, persistent challenges such as institutional fragmentation, inadequate funding, and limited public participation hinder effective policy implementation. The paper identifies key gaps in policy coherence and technology adoption and offers strategic recommendations to align India’s water treatment framework with long-term environmental and public health goals. By integrating technical progress with policy innovation and inclusive governance, India can move toward more resilient and equitable water resource management.
Keywords: National Water Policy, Jal Jeevan Mission, water, environmental, water treatment of India
Kailash Narayan, Himank Sharma. Beyond Conventional Purification: India’s Journey in Water Technology and Governance. Journal of Water Resource Engineering and Management. 2025; 12(03):-.
Kailash Narayan, Himank Sharma. Beyond Conventional Purification: India’s Journey in Water Technology and Governance. Journal of Water Resource Engineering and Management. 2025; 12(03):-. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jowrem/article=2025/view=234982
References
- Balamurugan M, Kasiviswanathan KS, Ilampooranan I, Soundharajan BS. COVID-19 lockdown disruptions on water resources, wastewater, and agriculture in India. Front Water. 2021;3:603531. doi:10.3389/frwa.2021.603531.
- Saleth RM, Dinar A. Water institutional reforms: Theory and practice. Water Policy. 2005;7(1):1–19. doi:10.2166/wp.2005.0001.
- Shah M. Water: towards a paradigm shift in the Twelfth Plan. Econ Polit Wkly. 2013 Jan 19;48(3):40-52.
- Parween F, Kumari P, Singh A. Irrigation water pricing policies and water resources management. Water Policy. 2021;23:130–41. doi:10.2166/wp.2020.147.
- Wada Y, van Beek LPH, Wanders N, Bierkens MFP. Human water consumption intensifies hydrological drought worldwide. Environ Res Lett. 2013;8(3):034036. doi:10.1088/1748-9326/8/3/034036.
- Lévesque É, Anctil F, Van Griensven A, Beauchamp N. Evaluation of streamflow simulation by SWAT model for two small watersheds under snowmelt and rainfall. Hydrol Sci J. 2008;53(5):961–76. doi:10.1623/hysj.53.5.961.
- Pol T. Water Policy leaves a lot to be desired [Online]. DNA India. 2012. Available from: https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/comment-water-policy-leaves-a-lot-to-be-desired-1655972.
- Government of India (GOI). Draft National Water Framework Bill. Ministry of Water Resources; 2016.
- Kumar MD. A critique of Mihir Shah Committee (2016) report on water reforms in India. In: Water Policy Science and Politics. Vol. 1. Elsevier; 2018. p. 83–97. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-814903-4.00005-1.
- Tingey-Holyoak JL, Pisaniello JD, Burritt RL, Spassis A. Incorporating on-farm water storage safety into catchment policy frameworks: International best practice policy for private dam safety accountability and assurance. Land Use Policy. 2013;33:61–70. doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2012.12.011.
- Iyer RR. National water policy: An alternative draft for consideration. Econ Polit Wkly. 2011;46:201–14.
- Chowdhury K, Behera B. Institutional dynamics and water resource management: The case of traditional water bodies in West Bengal, India. Int J Water Resour Dev. 2021;38:836–60. doi:10.1080/07900627.2021.1916448.
- Sheth D, Iyer M. Local water resource management through stakeholder participation: Case study, arid region, India. Water Pract Technol. 2021;16(2):333–43. doi:10.2166/wpt.2021.025.
- Escribano Francés G, Quevauviller P, San Martín González E, Vargas Amelin E. Climate change policy and water resources in the EU and Spain: A closer look into the Water Framework Directive. Environ Sci Policy. 2017;69:1–12. doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2016.12.006.
- Suresh S. Intersectoral competition for water between users and uses in Tamil Nadu, India. Front Earth Sci. 2021;9:1–13. doi:10.3389/feart.2021.663198.
- Mukherji A. Sustainable groundwater management in India needs a water-energy-food nexus approach. Appl Econ Perspect Policy. 2020;44:394–410. doi:10.1002/aepp.13123.
- Kathpalia GN, Kapoor R. Institutional Structural Changes in the Water Sector. New Delhi: Alternative Futures; 2001.
- Vyas JN, Nath S. The role of government and the public in water resource management in India. In: Singh P, Singh R, Singh VK, Bhadouria R, editors. Pollutants and Water Management. Hoboken (NJ): Wiley; 2021. p. 339–415. doi: 10.1002/9781119693635.ch16.
- Rouillard JJ, Benson D, Gain AK. Evaluating IWRM implementation success: Are water policies in Bangladesh enhancing adaptive capacity to climate change impacts? Int J Water Resour Dev. 2014;30(3):515–27. doi:10.1080/07900627.2014.910756.
- Pawan Jeet, Kumar A, Sundaram PK. Interlinking of rivers: issues and challenges. In: Hromadka TVV II, Rao P, editors. Hydrology. London: IntechOpen; 2020. doi: 10.5772/intechopen.93594.
- Walmsley N, Pearce G. Towards sustainable water resources management: Bringing the strategic approach up-to-date. Irrig Drain Syst. 2010;24(3–4):191–203. doi:10.1007/s10795-010-9100-z.

Journal of Water Resource Engineering and Management
| Volume | 12 |
| 03 | |
| Received | 10/07/2025 |
| Accepted | 26/08/2025 |
| Published | 29/08/2025 |
| Publication Time | 50 Days |
Login
PlumX Metrics