BMC chalks out measures to avert wastage of water…….Dhanya Nair
Water, water everywhere but not a drop to spare, and therefore every drop should be used judiciously; this was the mantra of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) cell which is campaigning for optimum use of water.
The RWH cell has come up with a study which reveals how 290.25 million litres per day (MLD) is wasted unknowingly across the city. The civic body will share this study with resident associations and hotels in the city with an aim to sensitise them.
Statistics reveal that water is wasted because people leave the tap water running while shaving, wash vehicles with pipe water and throw half-filled glasses of water in hotels. The same water can be used across households for various secondary purposes.
“People unknowingly waste a lot of water. For example, leaving the tap water running results in wastage of 198.75 MLD. Such practices add to water crisis. This water can be collected and used for various secondary purposes,” said Suprabha Marathe, assistant engineer of BMC’s RWH cell.
As hotels and restaurants are often targetted for wasting water, the civic body has come up with suggestions for them to avoid the wastage of water. The suggestions include usage of water taps made of ceramic cartridges, photo electric sensor taps and unused half filled glasses of water for gardening purposes.
“Often people think that only five star hotels waste water because they have luxury factors like bath tubs, but those are just a small percentage. There are hordes of restaurants and small-time hotels which are equally infamous for wasting water. We need to counsel them,” said Marathe.
“With the use of water taps made of ceramic cartridges, almost 30 per cent to 40 per cent of water from their daily intake can be saved,” said Marathe. “Photo electric sensor taps will only work, if they put hands directly under them. With this, hotels can ensure minimal wastage of water. These are small cost-effective steps which restaurants and hotels across the city could have implemented but unfortunately only a very few hotliers implemented these steps so far,” Marathe said.
Hotels and resident associations said they will readily accept the civic body’s suggestions. “Water conservation is very important for us. We believe that water too can be saved, reused and recycled. We recycle waste water and reuse it for air conditioning, gardening and for construction pusposes within the complex. It is good that BMC is suggesting methods to hotels across the city because they can do a lot to conserve water,” said Punish Sharma, general manager, Rodas and Ecotel Hotel.
The Union Park Residents Association, which recently adopted a garden and made it into eco-friendly by using RWH techniques, has too welcomed BMC’s initiative. “We are with the civic body in its water saving campaign. Though we were not aware of how everyday activities lead to wastage of water, we will surely take steps to sensitise residents,” said secretary, Bharati Kakkad. They are also propagating the use of recycled bathroom water in their area.
Factfile
* Mumbai’s population: 1.5 crore.
* Every house throws at least 2 buckets of water claiming it is stale.
* Total water wasted=1500000×40 litres=60 MLD.
* Mumbai’s population: 1.5 crore.
* Every house throws at least 2 buckets of water claiming it is stale.
* Total water wasted=1500000×40 litres=60 MLD.
Shaving with open tap:
* Water required during shaving=106 litres
* About 198.75 MLD of water is wasted for shaving everyday
* Water required during shaving=106 litres
* About 198.75 MLD of water is wasted for shaving everyday
Washing vehicles:
* There are as many as 20 lakh vehicles in the city. Though only 10% population wash vehicles with pipe water. Each wash consumes about 150 litres of water.
* Water consumed=2000000×150=30 MLD
* There are as many as 20 lakh vehicles in the city. Though only 10% population wash vehicles with pipe water. Each wash consumes about 150 litres of water.
* Water consumed=2000000×150=30 MLD
(Statistics provided by Rain Water Harvesting cell)