The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on September 23, 2026, issued the Guidelines for Handling, Storage, Management, Utilisation and Disposal of RO Reject Water and Discarded Elements.
The following has been stated:
• The guidelines, prepared by CPCB under the Water Purification System (Regulation of Use) Rules, 2023, provide requirements for management of reject water and discarded elements generated from Domestic and Commercial Water Purification Systems. RO reject contains concentrated salts, dissolved pollutants, minerals, and microorganisms; therefore, it requires appropriate reuse, storage, and disposal. The guidelines note that IS 16240:2023 prescribes a minimum RO recovery rate of 40%.
• RO reject water should be reused to the maximum possible extent for non-potable purposes such as floor cleaning, vehicle washing, toilet flushing and construction-site sprinkling. Commercial users may further treat and reuse it for activities such as cooling and landscaping. Users should provide suitable storage facilities where required. Any reject water that cannot be reused should be discharged into a sewerage system leading to terminal STPs. Discarded purifier elements shall be managed in accordance with the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 and Hazardous and Other Waste Management Rules, 2016, as applicable. Manufacturers are also required to promote reuse of reject water, obtain BIS certification under IS 16240, maximise the use of recyclable raw materials and avoid halogenated plastics.
