BWSSB plans campaign on judicious use of water

With depleting water levels in four reservoirs of Cauvery basin having set alarm bells ringing, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has come up with a campaign to conserve water.

The water board has taken up a detailed information, education, communication (IEC) programme in an attempt to bring behavioural change among water users.

The programme has been designed to underline the value of water and create awareness among citizens, commercial consumers and agencies for an efficient water management system in the city.

With an ultimate idea to control demand for fresh water, the BWSSB has roped in the support of Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI) to chalk out details and carry out the plan.

Adopting participatory approach, the programme aims to enhance community participation on water conservation, reuse of water, recycle of water and authorised connections. Under the IEC programme, the water board hopes to hold awareness campaigns in the wards, workshops for residents welfare associations (RWAs) and in educational institutions are part of the programme that sensitises on water management.

BWSSB Engineer-in-Chief S Krishnappa said that the campaign aimed to save fresh water.

“The availability of water in Cauvery basin is limited while the city’s population is increasing at a rapid pace each year. Summer is not a time to wash cars or other vehicles with fresh water. Awareness on the value of water is lacking even among the educated class,” he said.

P N Ravindra, Executive Engineer, BWSSB (New Initiative and Design cell) said that the campaign is aimed to reduce water consumption for the domestic purposes. Israel was able to save 18% of water in three years due to public outreach programme. The demand for fresh water came down due to behavioural change towards efficient water management,” he said.

Meeting with bulk water consumers

BWSSB Chairman T M Vijay Bhaskar told Deccan Herald that the board has planned to hold a meeting with bulk water consumers, including industries, railways and defence to reduce water consumption, this summer. “We will be able to supply 1,350 million litres per day (MLD) of water till June 15. As a precautionary method, the board has convened the meeting to see if it's possible to bring down the volume of water supply,” he said.

He also said that a meeting with Karnataka State Cricket Association will be held on Wednesday in connection with water supply to M Chinnaswamy stadium on account of IPL matches. “We have been supplying on an average 17 lakh litres of water per month. During cricket matches, the demand increase by 4 lakh litres per month. We want to keep it at 17 lakh litres until there is good rain,” he said.

Arithmetics of water

* Supply of Cauvery water (Stage 1 to 4): 1,350 MLD
* Population of Bengaluru: 10 million (approx)
* Demand for water from Cauvery basin: 1.5 TMC feet/month
* Requirement of water from April-June, 2016: Four TMC feet
* Number of energised borewells in the City: 7,932
* Borewells with handpumps: 3818