7 sewage treatment plants in Delhi fail discharge standards

- October 19, 2026
| By : PTI |

Seven Delhi STPs failed DPCC standards in September, dumping high levels of faecal coliform and waste into local waterways.

At least seven sewage treatment plants have failed the prescribed discharge standards for total suspended solids, biochemical oxygen demand and faecal coliform levels in September, the latest Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) report said.

Testing standards across more than 30 sewage treatment plants (STPs) in the national capital, the report provides data for samples collected from both inlet and outlet points.

Flagging the STP at Yamuna Vihar Ph-III for non-compliance, the report said the outlet sample from the facility exceeded the set limits for total suspended solids, biological oxygen demand and faecal coliform.

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According to the report by the DPCC, the treated discharge from the STP showed a faecal coliform level of 64,000 MPN/100 ml, against the permissible level of 230 MPN/100 ml.

The outlet sample at the Yamuna Vihar Ph-III also showed a Total Suspended Solids (TSS) level of 109 mg/l against the prescribed limit of 10 mg/l and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) of 42 mg/l against the permissible level of 10 mg/l.

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The sample collected from the STP at Mehrauli showed a faecal coliform level of 11,000 MPN/100 ml, along with high TSS, and BOD.

The other STPs that have not met the prescribed limits included those at Yamuna Vihar Ph-I, Okhla, Keshopur, Ghitorni, and one in Vasant Kunj.

The STP at Ghitorni showed extremely high level of faecal coliform, reaching up to 17,000 MPN/100 ml.

The STP at Vasant Kunj showed a faecal coliform level of 8,100 MPN/100 ml.

The DPCC conducts periodic monitoring of STPs in Delhi to assess the efficiency of sewage treatment and ensure compliance with environmental norms aimed at reducing pollution in the Yamuna River and other water bodies.