STP to be must for new apartments with five or more houses

Newly constructed and upcoming apartment complexes having five or more houses must have mini sewage treatment plants (STPs), the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) decided at a meeting held in the first week of this month.

The board had earlier decided that STPs would be must for apartment complexes having 10 or more houses.

Apartment complexes and commercial establishments spread over 10,000 sq ft and above must instal mini STPs, said T M Vijay Bhaskar, Chairperson, BWSSB.

He said citizens must take a conscious decision to treat their own waste water by reducing the burden on the board.

Replying to objections raised by some residents that having mini STPs in residential complexes would lead to foul smell in the vicinity, he said people must shun the “not-in-my-backyard” attitude and start taking responsibility.

The board also decided to make dual piping system mandatory for all upcoming residential and commercial establishments.

This way, treated water can be supplied in a separate pipeline which can be used for non-potable purposes such as toilet flushing, cleaning, gardening, etc.

“Through this decision, we want to encourage people to recycle and reuse waste water for all non-potable purposes. This will be the way to address the growing demand for water in a burgeoning city like Bengaluru,” Bhaskar said.

The BWSSB will soon write to the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board to
issue directions on compulsory STPs in apartment complexes and the dual piping system.

The proposal will be sent to the State government for a formal approval and a subsequent government order.