Even after making it mandatory in 2002 and suggesting it in Development Plan 2034, civic body doesn't have any data regarding rainwater harvesting.
Rainwater harvesting proved to be a solution for water crisis in many parts of India, but the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai is not pushing it in the city. Even after making it mandatory in 2002 and suggesting it in Development Plan 2034, civic body doesn't have any data regarding rainwater harvesting.
City gets plenty of rain every year. The average rainfall is more that 2,457 mm and if rainwater harvesting is done properly, this is sufficient to harvest 589 MLD of water throughout the year. City required 3,800 MLD water. BMC officials knew about this data and they made Rainwater Harvesting mandatory for all new Buildings in 2004.
"We took initiative for rain water harvesting though it was not mandatory on us. We installed system in 2004 to fetch all water from terrace to the ground well. 50 families and 42 commercial units are using water for toilets from well. It is more than 25 percent of our daily use and it obviously reduces water tax," said Chandrakant Khaire, resident of Chintamani Building on Mithagar Road in Mulund east.
After 2009 drought situation there were lots of discussion on conservation of water. But once the year passed, BMC was starts looking for another dam construction in Nashik district for need of water. There are few issues with RWH. Mumbai is an island city. "Majority wells on western sea face had salty water. It was coming from sea. If they fetch it, there is possibility of cave in or land slide and that would harm entire area," said senior officer of BMC on the condition of anonymity. A household uses only 20 percent of its water supply for cooking and drinking. Sixty percent of it is used for cleaning, bathing and flushing and this water directly going down the drain. "We have different plan to save water. BMC have projects for water recycling. It will solve issue of sea pollution also," officer added.
"Water recycling is one form of saving water, but we have to do as much as possible to save water. Civic body must make guidelines for rain water harvesting. May be there are some problems but they can be solve," said U. M. Paranjpe, trustee of Jalvardhini Pratishthan who guide voluntarily for Rain Water Harvesting across Maharashtra.
ABOUT RAINWATER HARVESTING
- BMC had made it mandotory in 2002 for all new constrction above 1000 square meters.
- This rule was extended to constructions over 300 square meters to obtain Occupation Certificate (OC)
- BMC dont have any data on how many buildings actually installed system for RWH and how many are still using it.
- Eventually BMC move from Rain Water Harvesting to Water treatment plant.
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 "Rainwater Harvesting")
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