Big housing complexes may have to give up some open space to set up treatment facility.
Water woes for the city seem to be unending. Soon, people residing in high-rises and big housing complexes will have to reduce their municipal water consumption, so that others living in smaller societies get their quota of supply.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to make recycling of grey water (waste water) mandatory for even existing buildings. It had initially proposed to enforce the reform for new constructions.
Housing premises which have an area of more than 2,000 sq m or which contain more than 80 dwellings will have to recycle waste water and use the same for non-potable purposes.
Housing, commercial and industrial premises consuming more than 60,000 litres daily will also be required to set up treatment facilities to recycle the waste water.
The BMC has finalised the blue print for the reuse of grey water by-laws. However, the by-laws accords exceptions for structures where the treatment facility cannot be made.
Interestingly, a housing complex may have to compromise on a portion of the recreation space it has.
To make up for the lack of space, the corporation has decided to allow the treatment facility to be constructed in the recreational open space in the society. The treatment plant will have to be restricted to 10% of the recreation space, the by-laws have ruled.
Apart from rainwater harvesting facility, new structures will also have to set up a grey-water recycling plant to apply for the completion certificate and initiate sales.
To make the existing buildings comply with the norm, the BMC has decided to levy a minimum fine of Rs5,000. Officials said that the societies will be given a stipulated time to set up the treatment facilities after the by-laws are approved.
A senior sewerage department official said that setting up of the facility could cost a society anywhere between Rs5-7 lakh. However, as an incentive, the BMC has proposed a 25% rebate in water and sewerage tax.
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