The Hindu : BWSSB may increase recycled water supply

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 23, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

BWSSB may increase recycled water supply

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, MARCH 22. The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) will soon have 245 million litres a day (MLD) of recycled water available for non-drinking use. This recycled water will come from secondary treatment plants to be commissioned in seven locations in three months, the board's Chief Engineer, M.N. Thippeswamy, said here on Monday.

The board now had 70 MLD of recycled water from treatment plans at Yelahanka and Vrishabavathi Valley, which were commissioned last year. The board had contracted to supply 4 MLD of recycled water to the international airport coming up at Devanahalli, one MLD each to Bharat Electronics Ltd., Defence establishments, and the Border Security Force station and another 2 MLD to various industries, Mr. Thippeswamy said.

He was speaking at the two-day seminar on "water and disasters" organised by the board and the US Agency for International Development to mark the World Water Day.

Mr. Thippeswamy said the board had recommended the use of recycled water for several potential consumers, including those in the new BDA layouts, the Karnataka Housing Board, parks, owners of apartments, and promoters of commercial complexes.

"We have studied the model in the U.S. and Australia where lilac coloured taps labelled `not for drinking' are used for recycled water. Separate meters will be provided for the recycled water supply," he said. Nearly 60 per cent of water used in homes could come from this source, he said.

The growing demand for water in the Bangalore metropolitan area, projected to be 2,200 MLD by 2025, could be met only if all of it came from the Cauvery, Mr. Thippeswamy said.

The city now had 870 MLD of supply. Tapping more water from the river at the Mekedaatu on the Tamil Nadu border was covered under the hydel project planned by National Power Corporation Ltd. This could become necessary with the board now responsible for providing drinking water to the seven city municipal councils and one town municipal council around the city, the large Arkavathi Layout of the BDA and the 27 wards newly added to the BMP. All these areas together with the city proper had a population of over 60 lakh. The "unaccounted for water" came to 35 to 40 per cent of the supply and the board had been trying to bring it down to a more "acceptable level" of 12 to 15 per cent.

The pilot project for this covered 30 sq. km. in the city and could be extended to 300 sq. km. but would cost around Rs. 463 crore. The high cost of pumping water from the Cauvery 140 km. away over a steep gradient meant the BWSSB had to spend Rs. 16 to Rs. 18 per kilolitre of water. This would go up if more water had to be pumped from the river.

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