Maharashtra to now grade water appliances

Like energy-efficient goods, consumers may soon be able to know the quantum of water conserved by appliances like taps, showers and purifiers. The Maharashtra water sector regulator will introduce water efficiency labeling and standards to grade these fixtures based on the water conserved.

This will save around 15 to 20% water, enabling better demand-side management. The Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MWRRA) will ink a MoU this month with the South Australia state, which has similar systems in place, for collaborations in technology, specifications and procedures to reduce water intensity.

This use of water-efficient systems, like taps dispersing water in droplet form, will be significant in a water-stressed state like Maharashtra which faces rising demands from stakeholders like domestic users, industry and agriculture. It will conserve water and help equitable distribution in cities like Mumbai which face the pressures of a rising population and limited rise in supply.

Of Maharashtra's 308 lakh hectare geographical area, 40% is drought prone.

"This concept has not been implemented much in India... It has been done well in Australia and we are looking at an collaboration with South Australia," noted V.M Kulkarni, Member (Engineering), MWRRA, adding the proposed policy would be like the energy-efficiency star ratings for electrical goods.

Stressing that economic costs of water were huge due to the heavy subsidies, he said local bodies could make water-savings appliances mandatory for issuing occupation certificates for new buildings.

"Though we are aiming at saving around 15 to 20% water, the quantum will run into crores (of liters)," said Kulkarni, adding this would also reduce sewage discharge.

"We may not be able to make (these standards) mandatory initially but impose them gradually ," he explained, adding they were examining the legal framework for implementing the policy and whether it needed concurrence from the state and central governments. Stakeholder consultations will be consulted.

The MWRRA may also consider making water efficient appliances compulsory for larger users like hotels, industries, institutes and government offices initially.

Kulkarni noted that in the intensely water stressed upper Godavari basin, the per capita water availability was around 700 cubic meters, which was higher than the availability in Israel, which has become a water surplus state due to efficient use.

The MWRRA's water use efficiency standards will cover all sectors, namely domestic, industry and agriculture.