Though the bungalow has no water connection, the family has been storing and using rainwater for drinking and cooking purposes for the last eight years.
A small bungalow, ‘Anandwan’ in Dhanvantarinagar, on the outskirts of Kolhapur city, does not have a water connection. Yet, the residents of this bungalow, the Devlapurkars, have access to ample safe drinking water throughout the year.
Setting an extraordinary example, this family has been storing and using rainwater for drinking and cooking purposes for the last eight years.
Deepak Devlapurkar (53) is a leprosy technician employed by the Kolhapur zilla parishad and secretary of the non-governmental organisation (NGO), Jan Swastha Dakshata Samiti. He told DNA, “This is the cheapest way to obtain safe drinking water.”
Since 1995, this NGO works for the environment and public health. Devlapurkar knows the basics of water pollution well. Eight years ago, he constructed his 1,000-square-foot bungalow at a cost of Rs6.5 lakh, while giving due consideration to green issues.
An important aspect of the construction was a 4,000-litre underground storage tank for collecting rainwater, which cost him Rs10,000. Water collected on the roof is channeled to the underground tank through pipes. It passes through a cloth filter to remove dirt and other impurities before reaching the tank.
The storage tank, just below the veranda of the bungalow, is totally covered with tiles and has two outlets: one for removing the water and one for the overflow.
“If the water is protected from contamination like human saliva, there is no fear of bacteria and other organisms. Besides, if the water is not exposed to sunlight, algae cannot form. Due to these precautions, this stored rainwater is safe for drinking,” he said.
The tank is sufficient for the family of four throughout the year. Along with him are wife Alka (48), a nurse employed by the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC), daughter Mili (21) and son Minar (16). “A family of four persons requires some 15 litres water for cooking and drinking. On an average there is rainfall on 165 days a year. Thus we require water storage for the remaining 200 days,” he said.
As bottled water costs around Rs15 per litre, the Devlapurkars are proud of having saved thousands of rupees by using stored rainwater.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}