The Times of India            28.05.2013

BWSSB, former mayor stresses on use of recycled water

BANGALORE: P R Ramesh, former mayor of Bangalore recommended that the government, BWSSB and BBMP should stop imposing rain water harvesting on citizens but channelize rain water through storm water drains to tanks and lakes and rejuvenate the water catchment areas of Bangalore.

"It is only 20% of the water that we consume while BWSSB pumps 1200 MLD of water everyday for the city spending thousands of crores. Tertiary and secondary treated water should be used for non potable purposes. The argument that it is sewage water which is treated fails because even Cauvery water which is pumped is also treated and sent," said Ramesh.

He criticized the government for thinking to meet the present crisis and then sit back and leave the city at the mercy of rains. "The government should think beyond Cauvery'. Is there a way to tap other sources like Nethravathy or Hemavathy. How can ground water table be replenished should be the main concern for the water board and government. They should also remove all encroachments around catchment areas or lakes," he added.

Meanwhile, the BWSSB chief Gaurav Gupta also stressed on creating mass awareness for using recycled and treated water. At the workshop organized in the board based on the MoU signed with Singapore on tertiary treatment, he said, "We need specific plans for developing capabilities to use treated sewage as a sustainable source of water. We have to emulate Singapore and other countries on loss reduction and leakage control of water".

BWSSB is sharing technological knowledge on developing capabilities for alternate sources of water through recycle and reuse of reclaimed water. The understanding was made on October 9, 2012.

Technical issues related to feasibility are being discussed in the four-day workshop and how to tap various means to educate the public with the involvement of the NGOs.