PCMC Disconnects Water Supply To 24 Housing Societies Over Non-Functional STPs

Pune, May 9, 2026: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation has intensified its crackdown on housing societies and establishments operating without functional sewage treatment plants (STPs). Water connections of 24 housing societies have already been disconnected, while authorities warned that further action will continue against violators in the coming days. 

The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has launched a major enforcement drive against housing societies and establishments failing to operate sewage treatment plants (STPs), citing serious environmental concerns and misuse of drinking water.

As part of the ongoing action, the civic body has disconnected water supply to 24 housing societies after they failed to make their STPs functional despite receiving repeated notices.

According to civic officials, a total of 62 housing societies and establishments were identified during the first phase of inspections for violating sewage disposal and water reuse norms.

Authorities said notices had been issued multiple times to nearly 99 societies, directing them to operationalise their STPs and comply with environmental regulations. However, many societies allegedly ignored the instructions even after first, second, and third warnings.

The civic administration stated that non-functional STPs have led to large quantities of untreated sewage being released into drains, stormwater channels, and nearby water bodies, contributing to increasing river pollution and environmental damage.

Officials also found that several societies were using fresh drinking water for flushing toilets and gardening instead of reusing treated sewage water as required under civic norms.

Under existing regulations, all establishments with a built-up area exceeding 20,000 square metres or residential complexes with more than 100 flats are required to install functional sewage treatment plants and reuse treated wastewater.

PCMC officials said that while action was initiated against 24 societies, four societies have now started work to restore their STPs. During inspections, three societies were found to already have operational systems, following which no punitive action was taken against them.

In another three cases, authorities discovered that builders had not formally handed over the STPs to housing societies, creating operational and maintenance issues. The municipal corporation has now initiated action against the concerned developers as well.

The Environment Department has also been conducting meetings and hearings with housing societies to resolve technical and administrative difficulties related to STP operations.

Meanwhile, the civic body has also issued a final warning to the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) regarding a non-functional STP at its Akurdi headquarters.

According to officials, PCMC had issued multiple notices to PMRDA since August last year regarding the malfunctioning sewage treatment plant. During a recent inspection, civic officials found that while the STP had been restarted, it was still not treating sewage according to prescribed environmental standards.

PCMC has reportedly given PMRDA time until Monday to ensure full compliance, failing which the water connection to the building may also face disconnection.

PMRDA officials, however, stated that repair and restoration work on the STP had already been undertaken through a formal tender process and that trial operations are currently underway. The authority said the plant is expected to become fully operational soon.

Officials from the civic administration clarified that the crackdown will continue across Pimpri-Chinchwad in the coming weeks, especially against establishments repeatedly violating sewage treatment and water reuse norms.

The municipal corporation has appealed to housing societies and residents to operationalise their STPs immediately, maximise reuse of treated water, and help conserve drinking water resources while avoiding punitive action in the future.