‘Go green! Recycle your grey water’
BMC wants to make it mandatory for societies to recycle wastewater, use it for flushing and gardening ……..SUDHIR SURYAWANSHI
In an eco-friendly move, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is planning to implement a new rule, making it compulsory for developers to have grey water recycling plants in all new constructions that have more than 60 units (240 residents). The BMC will not issue a work completion certificate to residential projects that are spread on plots of over 2,000 square metres and do not have the facility.
Grey water is generated from domestic processes such as washing dishes, doing the laundry and bathing. Nearly six to eight litres of water is used each time a person flushes. Grey water forms 50 to 80 per cent of wastewater from residential premises. Sources say that if housing societies are able to treat grey water, they will not face any water shortage, thus reducing the water bill. The recycled water will be used for flushing and gardening purposes.
The Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Commission (JNNURM), a central government body funding urban projects, has said that unless the BMC amends its policy to make the construction of water treatment plants compulsory, it will not sanction funds or grants.
Additional municipal commissioner Anil Diggikar said that the primary draft of the new policy will be in place in a month. “Once the draft is ready, we will invite suggestions and objections from citizens and in couple of months, we will make it mandatory to install grey water treatment plants. This rule will also be applicable to existing societies, but the society should have more than 240 residents. The expense will have to be borne by the housing society itself,” he said.
“During times of crisis, the BMC may announce some incentives and tax benefits under this scheme. Presently, there are some societies that are praticising grey water recycling, including Hiranandani society in Powai. The effective use of grey water will also help reduce the load on municipal infrastructure, including water supply, wastewater treatment and solid waste management,” said a civic officer on condition of anonymity.
Grey water, generated from domestic processes such as washing and bathing, will be treated at societies and re-used