Every Drop Counts: Employers involve their helps in saving water

Old habits die hard but they need to die sooner keeping the larger perspective of saving water in mind. Water expert Madhukar Kamble, in a meet with residents of Ivory Tower in Wadala suggested that ‘change of habits’ was required for saving water, on Sunday. 

Residents had gathered at the society’s podium to attend DNA’s initiative “Every Drop Counts”. The initiative to create awareness among residents was started when Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced 10 per cent water cut due to a drop in the water level at dams and lakes that supply water to the city.

Water conservation expert and BMC’s former hydraulic engineer Madhukar Kamble explained the history and journey of water from lakes to taps. He said in rural areas people fetch water from 4 to 5 km and here in the city we just open the tap and gets the water from lakes which are 150 km away. 

Unlike some places where water problem was not a daily issue, in the case of residents of Ivory Towers, they were facing an acute water shortage issue. Some of the residents also made complaints of contaminated water. The society doesn’t have rainwater harvesting system, but now they are thinking to dig ring wells for additional water supply at least for toilets and bathrooms. 

On this backdrop, the residents were eager to know about water saving techniques. Madhukar Kamble advised, “ We have to change our old habits. We flush the full 10-litre tank even for urination. Install two nobs flush or use 3 litres bucket. A shower is the main culprit. We don’t realise how much water gets wasted while bathing. Use a bucket instead.” 

During the campaign, residents expressed their views, asked questions on saving water and even shared measures they have already started implementing to conserve water. The event took an interesting turn when a housemaid waiting near podium joined the gathering. One of the enthusiastic members, Pravin Mehta called her and an office boy Sachin, who washes the vehicles to join the meeting. “They have to listen to these techniques to reduce water uses,” said Mehta. But what will they do alone if they don’t get support from us? We have to tell them to use less water in our home. What will they do if their employers ask them to use more water?” another resident raised the doubts. “They work in at least five to six houses daily. Keeping the taps open saves their time. Eventually, it is upon us to guide them as well as think from their end,” said Kamble

Zulfikar Husain, a resident, suggested an innovative way to save water. “There is a knob at every household to regulate the flow of water. We ask a plumber to slow it down for each and every house so the water consumption will down automatically.” If we start thinking cautiously our habits will change, the change has to start from within is the take-home message for the residents.

IVORY TOWERS HOUSING SOCIETY, WADALA

8 Total number of buildings

3,000 Number of residents (aproximately)

3,800 MLD Water supplied by BMC in city

Water timing: 05 pm to 7 pm

Major impact of 10 per cent water cut: Yes

Rain water harvesting: No rain water harvesting done yet. Ring well planned 

Total number of dams that supply water: Seven

WAYS TO CONSERVE WATER

(As suggested by Madhukar Kamble, ex-deputy municipal commissioner and Hydraulic Engineer in BMC)

Try to open only half tap. It is enough and saves up to 50 per cent water

Stop using a shower in the washroom as over 60% water gets wasted

Use a bucket for washing utensils in a kitchen

Open tap and leakages in pipes are culprits of wasting water

Use detergent power as per requirement