Amid a water crisis lashing several areas in Bengaluru and a summer season rising the mercury levels, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has announced that starting April 10, it will be cutting 10% of water supply for those using water between 40 lakh and 2 crores litres daily, The Indian Express reported.
The move is expected to hit several towering apartments, large gated communities and other large establishments. Previously, the BWSSB had announced a 20% reduction in water supply to 38 bulk users consuming over two crore liters of water daily. This measure is conserving approximately 10 million liters of water per day.
Water supply in Bengaluru
BWSSB chairman Ram Prasath Manohar V led a meeting on April 1 with those who consume between 40 lakh and 2 crore litres of water daily, The Indian Express said. The users were advised to inculcate the five principles of the “green star challenge” which include adopting water conservation technologies, enhancing the utilisation of treated water, employing technology to monitor borewells, implementing rainwater harvesting pits, and raising awareness among users regarding these principles.
BWSSB has already launched a green star challenge to restaurants, bulk users and apartment complexes.
Supplying recycled water for construction activities
Starting today, the board will supply recycled water for construction activities. Earlier in March, the BWSSB had banned the use of potable water for construction activities, road maintenance works, vehicle wash among other non-drinking purposes.
Previously, Manohar stated that the initiative to provide recycled water would lessen dependency on borewells. According to reports, the BWSSB chairman mentioned that developers have placed orders for 62 lakh liters of recycled water, and the demand is anticipated to increase.
Manohar told The Indian Express that the daily complaints of water scarcity had decreased from 1,000 to 400. He attributed this reduction to the board’s prompt interventions in recent weeks. Measures such as reducing the use of potable water for construction, swimming pools, entertainment, and car washing, among other non-drinking purposes, have led to a 20 MLD improvement in water supply in Bengaluru, he stated.