The previous summer was a difficult one for the city of Bengaluru, known for its great climate and beautiful gardens – it faced one of its toughest water crises in recent memory. With less rain last year and falling groundwater levels, BWSSB swung into action to enforce strict water conservation measures across the city, embracing this initiative by many apartment complexes.
Last March, BWSSB banned the use of drinking water for car washing, construction works, gardening, fountains, road repairs, or maintenance purposes. The civic body also prohibited the use of potable water sourced from Cauvery and borewells to fill pools. BWSSB softened up on this decision after a month when they allowed apartments blocks including clubs and sports centers to utilize borewell and rainwater for pool filling. However according to the order no one can use any of both board’s supplied Cauvery waters as pool fills. If any of these conditions are not met then “BWSSB will impose a fine of ₹5k for 1st offence,” warned Mr Kumar adding that “on subsequent offences, the fine would go up by ₹500 every day.”
But now that monsoon is finally here are these communities still adhering to BWSSB’s directives on sustainable living through continued adherence to their conservation methods? Looks like there are many others who have done so.
Advised Members
According to Vikram Rai who is president of Bangalore Apartments Federation (BAF), he added more information. “Following these instructions we have not had our members request us if anything has changed in terms of what has been banned.” Asking him whether BAF could let its members know if the ban was lifted he said that “We tell them not yet and it still stands.” “All 1300 apartments under BAF are continuing with their conservation methods.”
This season BAF informs membership about how harvested rainwater is a good substitute source than using Cauvery/Borewell. Most apartments use treated water, harvested rainwater, and groundwater for their activities. “We also do have a conversation with the members often to evaluate how we can keep applying some of the techniques from summer. Some apartments even made policies or ways to ensure that water is saved in them. For instance, there are some flats that have strict rules like you can wipe your car every day but you should wash it with a bucket of water once a week. As Rai conservation explained,” “Apartments covered swimming pools with tarpaulin during summer when not in use by anyone to stop the evaporation of pool water and many apartments are still doing this.”
RO waste water utilization
According to Rohini Ghose, the secretary of the Aristocrat Apartments, Kasturinagar apartment association said that they had devised a unique way of collecting about 600 liters of RO waste water every day and have been maintaining this method. “Although we are in rainy season and there is enough water, we still continue with the saving measures which started in March. In the beginning I did not know how to save reverse osmosis (RO) water because it is an old apartment and it would be difficult for us to lay new pipelines. Therefore, during the summer break we conducted a survey in our apartments where we found out that at least 70 units from 145 can give as at least 10 liters of Reverse Osmosis (RO) wastewater on a daily basis. All residents were given a jerry can that carried 10 litres to fill outside their houses. This water will then be put into two drums each with taps and hosepipe measuring up to 200 litres respectively. We use this water for washing cars, mopping common areas, swimming pools and garden area.”
Recently they also got a lab test of the RO water, RO rejects water, ground-water and Cauvery water, to confirm that their supply was good quality. It had the appropriate pH levels as well as meeting WHO standards limit. “This allowed us to take a decision that we could use the RO reject water for our swimming pool, and now we have seen drop in our water bill,” Ghose added.
Cutting down on car washes
At Raghuvanahalli Krishna Gardenia apartments too residents are continuing follow through what they started during this year’s summer period. “Whatever guidelines were issued by BWSSB during this year’s drought situation have proved sustainable,” says one tenant who lives here Raghuveer Samarth says; conservation adding: “Hence it remains in place up to today. However, we recycle our pool water; therefore, we now use it more during weekends. We have strict rules about car washing and we have told residents not to use more than a bucket per wash. Most of the residents however never wash the cars and they instead dust and wet cloth wipe them that is saving us a lot of water,” said Raghuveer Samarth.
In Subramanyapura’s Nandi Shelters apartment residents have decided against using their swimming pool any longer. S.R. Tareen who stays in this apartment said, “Initially our association stopped the use of the swimming pool due to water shortage in Bangalore city. Besides schools opening and rains coming back there are no much users for the pool now. So I dried the pool and its not being used anymore because the ground water levels in our area went down drastically and at least twice a week tankers come here for our daily needs?” “A car can only be washed once every week using one bucket.”
Not for emergency situations
He told The Parami News, V. Ram Prasath Manohar, who is the Chairman of BWSSB, “It’s not about handling a crisis; it is all about efficient water management at all levels. Water requires much energy and effort, so people must prize it. Pools can still open when they don’t use Cauvery to fill them. However, using drinking water for other purposes such as car washes and gardening is still banned with penalties for misuse.” “Methods involving wasteful water use should be discontinued on a long-term basis. We plan to make this a permanent prohibition.”
