This is how RWF has achieved self-reliance in water

The Rail Wheel Factory (RWF) has worked out a sensible rainwater harvesting solution to achieve self-reliance in terms of its water needs.

The factory, located at a sprawling 191 acre area in Yelahanka, has not used the BWSSB connection.

The RWF management reviewed the wetland inside their compound that recharged the traditional wells, which went dry several years ago.

They rejuvenated the water table by channelising rainwater to a 1.5-kilometre area that had become a dumping yard for a few years. "This was a low-lying area surrounded by waterbodies and four dry wells," water expert Vishwanath Srikantaiah told DH. "We made a channel to let rainwater flow into the wetland. This rejuvenated the place and filled up the wells."

Earlier, the factory had to depend on BWSSB for the 300 litre per day water requirement. Now, the rejuvenated wetland and the four wells are sufficient to meet its water needs for the next six months even without rain.

"It has become a biodiversity zone, where we could spot peacocks and other migratory birds, besides butterflies. The management is working to rejuvenate more vacant wetlands available in the compound, which will make it completely independent of Cauvery water," Srikantaiah said.