All type of HCEs shall comply with the effluent standards mentioned by the Board. All HCEs shall install scientifically designed disinfection facilities before discharging the effluent in sewer line 

 

MAHARASHTRA Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has decided to exempt the installation of sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Health Care Establishments (HCEs) which has the bed capacity upto 50 and those complying with the effluent standards mentioned by the Board. The Board, in its 183rd meeting which was held in June, has considered these developments for HCEs in the State.

 

“Healthcare facilities with bed capacity upto 50 which are discharging their sewage into public sewer which further leads to terminal STPs shall be granted combined consent and Bio Medical Waste (BMW ) authorisation without the necessity of installing individual STPs,” stated a circular issued by the Board recently. Along with this, such facilities shall comply with the effluent standards like pH value should be 5.5 to 9.0; Suspended Solid 600 mg/l; Oil and Grease 20 mg/l; BOD 350 mg/l; and Bio-Assay Test shall be 90% survival of fish after 96 hours in 100% effluent.

 

Similarly, healthcare facilities with bed capacity of 51 and above must incorporate STPs, regardless of their connection to sewage system and shall comply with the effluent standards like pH Value shall be 6.5 to 9.0; Suspended Solid 100 mg/l; Oil and Grease 10 mg/l; BOD 30 mg/l; COD 250 mg/l; and BioAssay Test shall be with 90% survival of fish after 96 hours in 100% effluent. Additionally, all HCEs irrespective of the bed capacity shall install scientifically designed disinfection facilities before discharging the effluent into sewer line or reuse in the premises as under Schedule II (6) of BiomedicalWaste Management Rules, 2016. The Board also directed healthcare facilities which are non-bedded, are required to dispose infectious liquid wastes only after treatment by disinfection as stipulated under Schedule II (6) of the Rule.