Bangalore needs efficient water management

The fast-growing Bangalore Metro’s water supply management is all wrong, according to MN Thippeswamy, former chief engineer Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board (BWSSB).

Instead of plugging wastage and recycling water, the efforts are to augment water supply, which is as futile as filling up a leaky tank. It is not a sustainable bargain, he said.

Presenting a strong case for curbing water wastage at the Institute of Engineers on the World Water Day on Tuesday, Thippeswamy said that Bangalore loses nearly  40% of drinking water.

The most important aspect of ensuring water for all is efficient management of existing water supply with zero wastage. “Only 40% of sewage water is going to treatment of plants and 60% go to storm water drain, which pollutes groundwater and lakes. If efficient water management is ensured, that alone will save at least 250 million litres everyday.”

Thippeswamy said that rainwater harvest is only a limited solution. “Money was no issue,” he said.

"About Rs6,000 crore is available under various schemes if the government and the authorities have the will to implement comprehensive scheme that would involve reducing waste, recycling used water, conducting strict water audits at all levels, and augmenting water supply.”

As per the estimates of the Bangalore BWSSB, the demand of water is 840 million litres per day (MLD). The supply is 705 MLD, and the gap works out 135 MLD, which is growing very fast. 

PP Mazumdar of Indian Institute of Science spoke on the impact of climatic changes on water resources, G Aswathanarayan and MR Pranesh of Institute of Engineers were also present.