KSPCB STP Guidelines 2025: Your Practical Compliance Roadmap
In Karnataka, compliance isn’t optional—it's mandatory for sustainable wastewater management. The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) enforces strict STP (Sewage Treatment Plant) guidelines to prevent untreated wastewater from polluting groundwater and surface ecosystems. These norms protect both public health and urban sustainability, especially in dense cities like Bengaluru, where over 60% of apartments and tech parks rely on in-house sewage systems.
Failure to comply can result in:
Heavy penalties (ranging ₹1–5 lakhs per violation)
Disconnection of water or electricity
Legal notices or criminal liability under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
Who Is Required to Set Up an STP?
You must install an STP if you fall under these categories:
Apartments / Residential Projects
Built-up area ≥ 2,000 m² or 20+ units
E.g., Prestige Group, Sobha Developers, and Brigade projects in Whitefield and Sarjapur
Commercial Buildings
Malls, IT parks, hotels with built-up area ≥ 2,000 m²
E.g., Manyata Tech Park, Phoenix Marketcity
Schools / Colleges / Hospitals
Institutions with large campuses (5,000 m² or more)
- Large Townships
- Townships spanning a minimum of 10 acres or more
STP Design and Layout Standards
KSPCB expects a minimum functional setup. Here’s what’s required:
Mandatory Treatment Units
- Equalization Tank – Balances sewage inflow
- Aeration Tank – Oxygenates wastewater to break down organic matter
- Sludge Holding Tank – Collects settled sludge
- Chlorination / UV Disinfection Chamber – Ensures pathogen removal
- Sludge Dewatering System – For dry sludge disposal
Location & Accessibility Guidelines
Odour & Noise Control
- Acoustic enclosures for blowers
- Biofilters or activated carbon scrubbers to eliminate foul smell
- Anti-vibration mountings for motors and pumps
Water Quality Norms for Treated Effluent
KSPCB-prescribed treated water output quality:
| Max Limit (Bengaluru) | |
| pH | 5.5 – 9.0 | |
| BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) | ≤ 20 mg/L | |
| COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) | ≤ 50 mg/L | |
| TSS (Total Suspended Solids) | ≤ 20 mg/L | |
| Total Nitrogen | ≤ 10 mg/L | |
| Phosphorus | ≤ 1 mg/L | |
| Fecal Coliform | ≤ 100 MPN/100 mL |
Lab Testing: Monthly lab results must be submitted to KSPCB. Choose NABL-accredited labs such as Envirocare Labs or KSPCB-approved mobile labs.
Reuse Treated STP Water | How to and where!
Permitted Use-Cases:
- Toilet flushing
- Requires dual plumbing setup
- Common in projects like Shobha Palladian
- Gardening and Landscaping
- Maximum 5 litres per m² of green area
- Construction
- For concrete curing, dust control, road cleaning etc
Prohibited Use-Cases:
- Potable Consumption
- Drinking
- Cooking or handwashing
- Gardening
- Watering edible plants; unless using UV treated STP water
- Entertainment
- For swimming pools and theme parks
Signage like “Non-potable water” must be displayed near outlets and tanks.
Approvals & Legal Compliance
What You Need:
Consent for Establishment (CFE): Before construction
Consent for Operation (CFO): Post-installation & yearly renewal
OC (Occupancy Certificate): Conditional on valid CFO submission
Final Thoughts: Don’t Just Install—Operate Right
An STP is not a checkbox—it’s a living utility that must be monitored, maintained, and audited regularly. In cities like Bengaluru, where rapid urbanisation strains groundwater and lakes, STP compliance plays a vital role in environmental protection.
If you're a facility manager, RWA, or Commercial or Industrial unit, it's time to:
Audit your STP
Train your staff
Maintain logs
Renew your CFO
Plan treated water reuse properly
