Greywater refers to wastewater from non-toilet systems, such as wastewater from kitchen sinks, baths, showers, washing machines, etc. The United Nations Office for project Services, (UNOPS) is providing strategic technical support to the government of India for Hon’ble Prime Minister’s national flagship programme, Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). JJM aims to provide functional household tap connections (FHTCs) to all the rural households in India by 2024.
In the current project, in villages like other rural areas in the country, greywater is often discharged into the surrounding areas posing environmental and public health risks. 31 billion litres of greywater are generated every day in India.
Mapping exercises in area of work carried out at the start of the project showed that less than 1% of the households had soak pits, structures to efficiently dispose greywater.