The government should seriously consider banning the use of water that is supplied for domestic purposes for non-domestic purposes, said Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) Chairman M S Ravishankar.  

At a programme organised to release the new year diaries and calendars by Bangalore Jalamandali Abhiyantharara Sangha here, Ravishankar said, “Water is becoming scarce along with the increase in the number of connections. It is sad to see people using potable water for non-domestic purposes. The BWSSB is unable to supply water to the 110 villages that were merged with the city to constitute greater Bangalore, due to scarcity.”

Ravishankar asked the BWSSB engineers to focus on increasing treating the sewage generated in the city to tertiary levels and supplying it for non-potable and industrial purposes.

“We should emulate Singapore and seriously consider promoting the use of tertiary treated water for non-potable purposes to avoid the foreseen water crisis,” Ravishankar added.

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy stressed on the need to explore the alternative sources of drinking water to the city and said, “It would be difficult to get more water for the city from the Cauvery and the ground water in the city is depleting very fast.”

“Therefore, we have to explore alternative sources to augment water supply in the city and to meet the increasing demand.”

Reddy said the government is thinking of constituting a separate authority for developing the lakes in the city.

The authority would focus on rejuvenating the lakes and improving the inflow into the lakes.