Coimbatore-based CRI Pumps has stepped into complete wastewater solutions powered by Italian technology, thanks to its recent acquisition of the four-decade-old Milan company FabbricaItaliana Pompe Sommergibili Srl.

CRI Pumps will launch sewage and wastewater pump solutions that will handle raw water, sewage, effluent, storm water and processed water treatment in municipal, utility and industrial applications.

G Soundararajan, vice chairman of the CRI Group said, “The world pump market is estimated at $42 billion, of which the wastewater pump market is valued at $9 billion. Municipal wastewater plants are the major users, contributing to nearly 23 per cent of the end-user market. The other major users are the food and beverages, sugar, textile, paint, tannery, paper and pulp, chemical, pharmaceutical and process industries. The Asia region is considered a key growth market, with China and India topping the list”.

The market demand is driven by rapid urbanisation, water scarcity, Central Pollution Control Board norms and industrialisation. According to the Ministry of Environment, currently 62,000 MLD of wastewater is generated in the country’s urban areas, while the capacity for treating wastewater stands at a mere 23,000 MLD.

Untreated sewage and industrial effluents pollute the surface and ground water, which is the main source of drinking water, leading to public health concerns. And in fact, India stands third amongst the most water-polluted countries based on the deteriorating quality of water ranking.

By 2030, there is expected to be a 50 per cent shortage of the water requirement of 1.5 trillion cu.m in India. In this scenario, wastewater recycling and reuse will be the most economical viable alternative.