8: General: 0471-2312910,2318153, 2318154,2318155 Chairperson:2318150 Member Secretary: 2318151
e-mail: ch n. kspcb(osov. i l8l 52 web: kspcb. kera la.sov.
n; ms. kspcb @sov. i n FAX: 23 i n
KERALA STATB POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
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Pattom P.O., Thiruvananthapuram - 695 004 ,{,h tiFE Lifestyle for
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Environment
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KSPCBi 1 648 I 2024-SEE- 1 Date: 2710312025
CIRCULAR
Sub:- Sewage/Effiuent Treatment Plants, Common Sewage Treatment Plants
and Fecal Sludge Treatment Plants - Revised Siting Criteria
Ref:- 1 . Circular no. PCB/HO/SEE3 ITECHI 612017 dated 10109 12021
2.Letter no. No. 4068lGl2022lSM dated 3010312024 of the Executive
Director, Suchifwa Mission to the Board
3 . G. O. (Rt)No. I 85 4 I 2024/LSGD dated 04 I I 0 I 2024
4. Recommendation of the High Level Technical Committee held on
23t01202s
Board has specified distance criteria for Sewage/Effluent Treatment
Plants, Common Sewage Treatment Plants and Fecal Sludge Treatment Plants
vide Circular dated 1010912021 (ref 1) as per which minimum distance to
nearby residence from the plant; and, minimum distance from point of
discharge of treated sewage to water bodies, were both 25 log (Q metre for
Common Sewage/Effluent Treatment Plant (capacity greater than 100 KLD)
and Fecal Sludge Treatment Plants.
Suchitwa Mission has requested the Board vide letter (2) to revise the
distance criteria fixed by the Board in Circular (l). Based on the request and
in view of advanced technologies available for better pollution control in
operation of treatment plants, High Level Technical Committee held on
2310112025 (ref 4) recommended revision of the distance and set back criteria
for various types of Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP) and Sewage Treatment
Plants (STP). Accordingly the distance and set back criteria for various types
of Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP) and Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) as
per Circular dated l0l0912021is revised as follows.
Minimum distance
Minimum distance to from point of
Type of plant
nearby residence or discharge of Minimum Setback
other establishments treated sewage/ in metre
in metre effluent to water
bodies in metre
Sewage Treatment
As per Building
Plant attached to l0 loe (Q) 10 log (Q)
Rules
an individual unit
As per the category and
As per the category As per Building
Effluent
type ofthe industry to
and type of the Rules or the
Treatment Plant industry to which minimum set back
attached to an
which the ETP is the ETP is attached for the type of
attached or l0 log (a)
individual unit. whichever is higher
or 10 log (a) industry specified
whichever is higher whichever is higher
Common Sewage
Treatment Plant
and Fecal Sludge
Treatment l01og (Q) 10 log (Q) J
Plants (capacity
less than or equal
to100 KLD)
Common Sewage
Treatment Plant
and Fecal Sludge
10 log (Q) 10 log (Q)
Treatment Plants
(capacity greater
than 100 KLD)
10 log (Q) subject
Common Effluent l0 log (Q) subject to a
to a minimum of 25 5
Treatment Plants minimum of 25 metre
metre
Note
a Q is the effluent/sewage generation in cubic metres per day.
a Minimum distance to nearby residence or other establishments means
the distance from the nearest residence or other establishment to the
closest structure of the Treatment Plant.
Minimum distance to water bodies means the distance from the point
of discharge of treated sewage/effluent to the nearest water body, the
di scharge, being into land/soakpit for percolation/irri gationl gardening.
Water bodies to be considered are open wells, tube weIls, ponds, lakes,
rivers, irrigation canals and other perennial water bodies.
o Setback means the distance from the closest structure of the Treatment
Plant to the nearest boundary of the plot.
o Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) are wastewater treatment plants
attached to apartments, commercial buildings, office buildings,
shopping malls, auditoriums, restaurants, hotels, hospitals, educational
institutions and all other buildings and establishments where domestic
wastewater (Sewage+Sullage) is generated. STP can also be
standalone treating domestic wastewater
o For Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETP) located in declared
industrial areas, the setback needs to be obtained from periphery or
boundary of the industrial area only.
Further it is also clarifled that
1. Regarding Common STPs and FSTPs: Stringent monitoring is required
for Common Sewage/Effluent Treatment Plants and Fecal Septage
Treatment Plants. Online monitoring system for at least two parameters
(pH & BOD in case of common STP and pH & COD or. other parameter
likely to be significant in the discharge in case of common ETP) shall be
installed and connected to the OCEMS of the Board. Separate water
meters and energy meters shall be installed. CCTV, exclusively for the
treatment plant, with one month recording facility shall be provided (with
facility for recording the water meter and energy meter readings).
2. Regarding installation of plants above ground level: As far as possible
Sewage Treatment Plants (not applicable to Effluent Treatment Plants)
are to be constructed above ground level. If there are space constraints,
the STP shall be installed in a cellar space where adequate lighting and
ventilation are provided.
a
J. It is noted that Government have examined the matter of underground
STPs and accorded sanction to IMPACT Kerala Ltd. to proceed with the
implementation'of underground STP/FSTPs in the State vide Govemment
Order (GO) refered (3). Accordingly, owing to severe space constraints,
if the STP cannot be installed in cellar space also, considering the
Government Order cited above, the STP can perrnitted to be constructed
below ground level, subject to the condition that they give an undertaking
that they do not have adequate space to construct the STP above ground
level or in cellar. In such cases, the applicant is required to comply with
the following recommendations.
i. Infiltration testing shall be conducted and water tightness shall
be ensured in the civil tanks.
ii. Bituminous coatings and precautions should be taken to make
underground tanks leak-proof.
iii. Sensor-based control systems shall be installed for these types
of plants to prevent leakage and bypass alrangements for
groundwater flow shall be ensured.
4. For underground STPs it is also desirable (not mandatory) to provide
proper lighting for facilitating inspection
5. STP on roof tops also can be permitted in areas where there is space
constraints. Minimum distance to nearby residence or other
establishments and minimum setback are not applicable to STP on roof
top.
6. This revised Circular supersedes the criteria for STPs in 'SOP for High
Rise & Other Buildings' dated 1510312023
il,
cHAtrkRsoN
To
1. The Chief Environmental Engineer,
Re g i onal
o ffi c e, Thiruvananthapuram /Ernak ulam/Kozhiko de.
2. The Senior Environmental Engineer,
District Office Kottayam, Wayanad.
3. The Environmental Engineer, District Office,
Th i ruv ananth apuram, Ko I am, p athanamth i tt a, Alapuzha, I dukki,
1
Ernakulam- 1, Ernakulam-2, Environmental Surveillance Centre, Elo or,
Thris sur, Palakkad, Malappu r am, Kozhikode, Kannur,Kasargod.
Copy to:-
1) A11 Technical Staff in HO
2) IT Cell (for uploading in the website)
3) c.A. to CHN, MS & CEE HO
