No water crisis in city yet: BWSSB

No water crisis in city yet: BWSSB
There is enough water to maintain regular supply to the city, according to BWSSB, says Leena Mudbidri


The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) Chairman, N C Muniyappa has categorically said that the city's water supply has not reached a crisis stage and almost the required capacity of 900 million litres daily (MLD) is being released as before. "In spite of the shortfall of 75 MLD caused by the drying up of the T G Halli reservoir, we still have an availability of 90 percent of water for the city's consumption," said Muniyappa.
"As a trouble-shooting exercise we have made adequate arrangements to cater to the city's water needs," said the BWSSB chairman. "Wherever possible, we have tried to interlink pipelines so there is even distribution of water. In some areas of south and south-east Bangalore which are on a low gradient, there is hardly any water supply problem. In areas that have no water supply we have provided tankers", he said. He also said that in the next two and a half months BWSSB was hopeful of getting an additional 100 MLD water from Cauvery Water Supply Scheme Phase I. Also, the monsoon could set in by next month which could relieve the problem to a great extent.
Citing the main reasons for the shortfall, he said that since most of the borewells are running dry most people are using the Cauvery water for their domestic and commercial use instead of for solely drinking purposes. He also pointed out that ever since the implementation of the Cauvery Water Supply Scheme Phase I in November 2002, there has been no additional increase in water supply. In intensely developed areas like Koramangala and HSR Layout where the water supply has remained the same, the population has increased and hence the perceptive shortfall.
Rainwater harvesting
Pointing out that rainwater harvesting was a time-tested solution to water crisis all over the world, the chairman said that along with BWSSB, other civic bodies like the BBMP, BDA, BMRDA and KSPCB should cooperate in enforcing the rainwater harvesting system while issuing a NOC to buildings. "The construction industry should not exhaust groundwater resources by using borewells for construction," he said. "They should instead use tertiary treated water for construction," he added. Before issuing a NOC, the BWSSB enforces the rule that buildings having a water consumption of 10,000 litres or more, and those new residential complexes housing 50 or more apartments should have installed a Secondary Treatment Plant (STP) as well as a rainwater harvesting system. "This will ensure that in the next couple of years there will be no water supply problem and there will be disciplined use of water among citizens," said Muniyappa.