New Delhi: Delhi Jal Board’s two-day Jal Manthan 2026 concluded Wednesday with experts and officials focusing on improving the city’s water security and accelerating the rejuvenation of the Yamuna.The conclave, held on Sept 15 and 16, brought together water experts, technology specialists, utility practitioners, administrators and representatives of multilateral organisations. Six key areas were 24×7 quality water supply, circular water economy, future-ready workforce, digital DJB, financial sustainability and Yamuna rejuvenation. The discussions focused on practical and technology-driven solutions for Delhi’s water and wastewater systems.The concluding session brought recommendations under the broader framework of Jal Sankalp, aimed at converting the deliberations into actionable measures for the city.Experts stressed that the health of the Yamuna was linked to the entire water and wastewater cycle, including water distribution, sewage collection and treatment, reuse, drain management and pollution control.Greater use of treated wastewater for non-potable purposes was another key area. Experts examined reclaimed-water utilisation and recovery of resources from wastewater and sludge. DJB said increased reuse of treated wastewater could reduce pressure on freshwater resources and the wastewater load entering the Yamuna.The discussions also focused on smart metering, artificial intelligence, machine learning, supervisory control and data acquisition, and leak-detection technologies to reduce water losses and improve monitoring.Water minister Parvesh Verma said the success of Jal Manthan would be measured by improved water services for Delhiites and visible improvement in the Yamuna’s health.A senior official said experts from India, Israel, UK, Netherlands and France, along with representatives of World Bank and Asian Development Bank, participated in the conclave.
