STP Maintenance and Operation in Bangalore
Reshma Facilities Management operates and maintains sewage treatment plants for apartments and gated communities in Bangalore. We place a trained operator on site, run the plant to KSPCB discharge norms, keep a signed daily log and send the association a monthly performance report.
Is an STP mandatory for apartments in Bangalore?
Yes, for most buildings. Under KSPCB guidelines a residential project must have a sewage treatment plant if it has 20 or more units, or a built-up area of 2,000 square metres or more including basement. Treated water must be reused within the property for flushing, gardening and similar non-drinking uses.
The plant must hold a valid Consent to Operate from KSPCB, renewed periodically. Renewal needs proof that the plant has been running properly, which in practice means records.
KSPCB discharge norms
The KSPCB circular of October 2025 set these outlet limits for surface water discharge:
Parameter | Limit |
|---|---|
BOD | 10 mg/L or less |
COD | 50 mg/L or less |
TSS | 10 mg/L or less |
These are among the strictest in India. KSPCB has fined apartments with faulty STPs, and in the Bellandur and Varthur lake catchment the National Green Tribunal has directed enforcement against buildings discharging untreated sewage.
Your STP is probably not broken
Most associations that call us about a failing STP have already been quoted for a new plant. Usually the plant is mechanically fine and the operation has slipped: – Chemical dosing was set at commissioning and never changed as more families moved in – The blower runs on a timer nobody has checked in years – Sludge has not been removed on schedule, so the tank carries more solids than it was designed for – Bar screens are cleared only when someone notices
None of this needs a new plant. It needs an operator who knows what the readings should be and corrects them the week they drift. Our free audit will tell you which situation you are in, in writing.
Why does an apartment STP smell?
An STP smells when the bacteria treating the sewage are not getting enough air, or are getting more load than they can handle. Common causes are too few blower hours, clogged diffusers, sludge left too long, or occupancy rising while the settings stayed the same.
An exhaust fan hides the smell for a few weeks. Fixing the process removes it.
STP processes we operate
Process | Common problem | What the operator must control |
|---|---|---|
ASP (Activated Sludge Process) | Sludge bulking, poor settling | Sludge age and return rate |
SBR (Sequential Batch Reactor) | Cycle times out of step with actual inflow | Fill, react, settle and decant timing |
MBBR (Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor) | Media loss, uneven mixing | Air distribution across the media |
MBR (Membrane Bioreactor) | Membrane fouling, rising pressure | Cleaning frequency and flux |
We match the operator to the process installed in your building.
Daily STP operation
Task | Frequency |
|---|---|
Inlet and outlet flow reading | Daily |
Chemical dosing checked and adjusted | Daily |
Blower and air distribution check | Daily |
Bar screen and oil and grease trap clearing | Daily |
Pump, motor and blower routine check | Daily |
pH, clarity and odour check | Daily |
Filter backwash | To schedule, logged |
Sludge removal and disposal record | To schedule, logged |
MLSS and settleability test | Weekly |
Third-party lab test | Quarterly or as agreed |
Report to the association | Monthly |
STP repairs and servicing
Blower servicing, diffuser replacement, pump repairs, dosing pump replacement, media top-up and membrane cleaning are handled or coordinated by our team. For sludge removal and tank cleaning, see STP tank cleaning.
Cost of STP maintenance in Bangalore
STP AMC cost depends on plant capacity in KLD, process type, whether a full-time or visiting operator is needed and whether chemicals and consumables are included.
Frequently asked questions
Larger plants and MBR plants usually do. Smaller plants can sometimes run with a trained operator on a single shift. KSPCB expects documented daily operation either way.
Yes. Karnataka rules require reuse for flushing, gardening and similar uses. Properly treated water is safe for landscape irrigation.
Yes. See License Renewal Services.
Our audit report will say so. We do not sell plants, so the recommendation is independent.