Waking up to the fact that water scarcity is reaching an alarming level, the civic body has decided to do its bit for conservation of the natural resource.
The BMC plans to revive an old plan, making it mandatory for all new structures, which are either spread over 2,000 sq m or house more than 60 flats, to set up grey water recycling plants; through the plants, water generated from domestic chores such as bathing, washing dishes, laundry and washing food items, can be treated and used for non-drinking purposes like washing vehicles, gardening and even in toilets. Grey water, which forms 50-80% of wasted water from homes, is different from that generated in toilets. as it contains human waste.
The rule is also applicable to an existing building if it has the space and the structural facility for it.
Civic officials estimate that if the facility is implemented successfully, in all new buildings in the city and some existing ones, at least 10% drinking water can be conserved daily; water supplied by the BMC is used for both drinking and non-drinking purposes by Mumbaikars.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is reviving an old proposal to make it mandatory for developers to have grey water recycling plants in all new constructions that will have more than 60 flats.
So that a developer cannot dodge the setting up of the recycling facility, citing the excuse of space being wasted, the civic body will ensure that builders are compensated with FSI equivalent to the area taken up by the plant. Also, if a new structure spread over 2,000 sq m, is built without the plant, the BMC will not issue a work completion certificate to it, said an official.
The BMC had initiated the move in 2008-the city faced acute water shortage at the time -and by-laws were drafted, but the project was put on the back burner. owing to administrative neglect.
Those by-laws, cleared by BMC panels, will be put up for public suggestions and objections next week. “A month will be given to respond to the rules,” deputy municipal commissioner Prakash Kadam said.As per the sources if grey water is treated by housing societies, water shortage will be solved, which will in turn reduce the water bill of the society. The recycled water can be used for flushing, gardening purposes and etc.
“Currently, some societies, including Hiranandani society in Powai, already recycle grey water. Its effective use will conserve water and also help reduce the increasing demand for more water,” said a civic official.
As a pilot project, the BMC itself has set up the facility at its staff quarters in Dadar, where the plant recycles 2,000 litre water every day. The plant was has been built at a cost of Rs 20,000.
With it being one of the mandatory conditions to avail funding for any civic project under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JJNURM) to have alternate source of water supply for non-drinking purpose, the BMC has decided to revive the proposal.
Source: Bhavika Jain, http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com
