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What if sanitation was less about building big sewage plants and more about fitting solutions to people’s lives? BORDA’s work in India shows how decentralized approaches rooted in local realities can turn this what-ifs into what’s actually possible. 

For decades, India has faced huge gaps in sanitation, with large parts of wastewater left untreated. In many towns and villages, centralized sanitation networks either don’t exist or fail to serve everyone. The result is untreated wastewater flowing into rivers and groundwater, with serious impacts on health and the environment. The shift now lies in building smaller, community-based systems that are easier to manage and tailored to local needs, whether in small towns, schools, or municipal wards. 

Instead of relying on massive, centralized plants that are costly and often out of reach, decentralized wastewater treatment systems (DEWATS) bring solutions right to the source. Set up in schools, apartment complexes, hotels, or municipal wards, these units run on low energy, are simple to operate, and need minimal maintenance. Just as importantly, so that the treated water doesn’t go to waste, it is reused for gardening, flushing, or recharging groundwater, turning a potential pollutant into a valuable resource.  

Technology alone doesn't build resilience. That’s why equal focus is placed on capacity building such as training plumbers, engineers, and municipal staff to install, operate, and adapt these systems. Over time, small demonstration projects evolved into municipal models, with local governments integrating decentralized treatment into their sanitation plans.  

In places like Ladakh or small towns with space constraints, systems adapt to local geographies, showing flexibility where central networks would be impossible. BORDA’s interventions span across multiple states in India, including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir (including Ladakh) bringing decentralized sanitation solutions to communities across India. 

The impact shows up in daily life. Cleaner water sources, fewer blockages, safer sanitation facilities, and reduced disease burden all ripple outward. Most importantly, people begin to trust that sanitation is not just a policy promise but a functioning service they can rely on. 

By designing alongside communities, strengthening local governments, and passing on practical knowledge, this approach shows that safe sanitation can be created close to home and sustained over time. It reminds us that sanitation is never just about technology, it is equally about people, equity, and collective responsibility. 

To see more of what BORDA is doing - visit: BORDA India / South Asia