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Posts Tagged ‘rainwater harvesting’

Scene very grim, Groundwater levels falling

12 Jan

The city is facing shortage of water of 225 million liters of water per day. The groundwater levels are falling sharply and natural aquifers are drying.

Despite the exploding growth and spread of the city, to get even a basic need like water is a struggle. The city is facing a shortage of 225 million liters of water per day (MLD). While the demand is 1,125 MLD, the supply stands at 900 MLD. Around 20% to 25% of the population in the newly added areas depend solely on groundwater.

The groundwater levels are falling sharply and natural aquifers are drying. The large expanses of  Sarjapur, Electronic city and Bannerghatta Road that offer plush residential facilities to a major population of techies depend almost completely on groundwater.

The compulsory rainwater harvesting law also lost steam. The last date for the implementation of all eligible houses was May 2010. However, since people needed more time, it was extended. There is no fresh deadline.

The Cauvery 4th Stage, 2nd phase project that is supposed to bring extra 500 MLD of water will kick-start only in 2012. But experts feel that it is only a temporary solution

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Times of India

 
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Good News for Bangalore BWSSB Consumers

13 May

There is good news for Bangaloreans. First, your water bills will not go up at least till summer is over.  Second, the BWSSB has extended Rainwater Harvesting deadline by two months. Thrid, government intends to solve Bangalore’s water supply problems once and for all — at a cost of Rs 12,000 crore.

The proposed hike in water tariff postponed till summer is over. Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) in-charge minister Katta Subramanya Naidu on Wednesday said  “With the city facing shortage of water, we have postponed the move to hike the water tariff. We are now looking at implementing the hike only after monsoon sets in. After summer, you can expect hike in water tariff.”




The BWSSB has extended deadline for installation Rainwater Harvesting from May 27 by two months. The decision to extend the deadline for rainwater harvesting came after there were demands from residents to give them some more time to install the system. Stating that harvesting rainwater would be the best solution to mitigate water shortage in Bangalore, Katta said that recycled rainwater would be supplied to the city. All houses measuring over 60×40 ft were told to compulsorily install the equipment to save rainwater. “At least 25,000 houses in the city have installed rainwater harvesting,” Katta said.

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is mulling over a project worth Rs 12,000 crore to solve the city’s sanitation worries and provide uninterrupted water. ” All these projects are part of the ‘Long Term Action Plan’ and would be completed in three years.  To implement this plan, BWSSB plans to create six artificial lakes — two in Vrushabavathi Valley, two in Bellandur valley, one in Anekal and one in Hoskote. “Each lake will be developed in 1,300 acres. These projects will enable BWSSB to meet the water needs of the city for another 50 years “said Katta Subramanya Naidu on Wednesday.

“Each lake will be developed in 1,300 acres. The estimated cost for the project is Rs 4,500 crore. Besides, the existing 135 lakes will also be used for this. Rainwater will be collected in the lakes and supplied to the city,” he said. Naidu added that the officials concerned have been directed to lay dual pipelines to supply treated sewage water for non-potable use.

Around 20 sewage treatment plants would be constructed at the cost of Rs 1,000 crore and around 900 MLD of water can be generated by treating sewage,” Naidu said.Eight ground-level reservoirs will be constructed around the city at the cost of Rs 200 crore. “These reservoirs will help store 2,500 million litres of water in the city. They will help supply water for two consecutive days, during emergencies,” he said. Naidu added that the officials concerned have been directed to lay dual pipelines to supply treated sewage water for non-potable use.



 
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Rainwater Harvesting in Bangalore that catches the eye too

10 May

Rainwater Harvesting in Bangalore seems to have twin objectives – storage and visual appeal. In Gowri and Harish’s beautiful home, the rainwater harvesting system has been designed with aesthetics in mind. During rain the feel and the sound is that of a waterfall. A stone pot camouflages a sand filter.




A rooftop rainwater harvesting system consists of a catchment, which is the roof itself; a conveyance system which includes rainwater gutters in the case of a sloping roof and pipes in case of a flat roof; filtration system to keep organic particles and dust out; and, finally, a storage system or a recharge system.Storage systems can be either rain barrels or sumps. Recharge systems are usually recharge wells.

In Gowri and Harish’s beautiful home, the rainwater harvesting system has been designed with aesthetics in mind. Aluminum gutters collect rainwater from a sloping tiled roof. They convey the rainwater to a downspout where a few strands of hanging chains are placed.Rainwater flows on the hanging chains and adheres to them due to surface tension. A stone pot camouflages a sand filter. The rain is filtered here and a concealed pipe then takes it into an underground sump tank. Functionality is not lost and close to 100,000 liters of rainwater is harvested here.

If rainwater harvesting system is designed properly, rainwater harvesting systems can add to the visual appeal and at the same time the visual appearance of the building is enhanced. During rain the feel and the sound is that of a waterfall. The properly designed Rainwater Harvesting functionality will not be lost and visual appearance of the building is enhanced as is the curiosity impulse.

 
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Register installation of Rainwater Harvest or get BWSSB water disconnected

29 Apr

May 27, 2010 is the deadline for Bangalore citizen to install rainwater harvesting. That’s the deadline to ensure your house has a rainwater harvesting system.If you don’t have one in place by then, your water and sanitation connections could be severed. This rule applies to all existing buildings on 60 ft x 40 ft sites and larger.




The recent amendment to the BWSSB Act now makes Rainwater Harvest (RWH) compulsory for newly constructed houses on 30 ft x 40 ft sites and above and extends to existing houses on 60 ft x 40 ft sites and above.The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is doing its bit to ensure compliance, sending notices to nearly 60,000 buildings across the city.

Those who’ve got the Rainwater Harvest (RWH) installation done must register at the nearest BWSSB AEE office to ensure that its database is updated. “We’ve been issuing notices over the past two months. With the deadline fast approaching, the response is better in some areas. The 60,000 units identified are those places which get regular water supply. The newly added areas will be forced to enter into the RWH mode only after they start getting regular water supply from BWSSB,’’ said a senior BWSSB official. Last week, the BWSSB demonstrated how to put a RWH system in place. BWSSB notices haven’t reached some localities yet.

“No one has received the notice yet in our area. However, many people have already started making arrangements. We’re also persuading people to meet the deadline,” said Joseph Meneuad, president, Richard’s Town Resident Welfare Association. “BWSSB officials wanted to meet residents but so far they haven’t done it. I don’t think people have received notices,” said B S Anantharam of the Koramangala ST Bed Welfare Association. “The notice saying that if we don’t meet the May deadline, our water and sanitary connections will be cut off. Some residents have started getting it fixed. Next month, we’ll have a seminar to brief residents. There’s also a model rainwater harvesting park in 5th Block which is almost complete,” said B Bhaskar of Jayanagar 5th Block RWA.

BWSSB threatens to disconnect Water And Sanitary Connections of its consumer if Rainwater Harvesting is not installed on or before deadline and get register of Rainwater Harvesting installation at the nearest BWSSB AEE office. BWSSB issuing notices over the past two months andBWSSB has issued notices to nearly 60,000 buildings across the city. May 27, is deadline for installation of Rainwater Harvesting system for newly constructed houses on 30 ft x 40 ft and above sites, and for exisiting houses on 60 ft x 40 ft and above sites.Install rainwater harvesting system on or before deadline or get disconnection of water and sanitation from BWSSB.

 
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Help desk for assisting the public in installing Rainwater Harvesting

02 Apr

The Bangalore Water Supply And Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has made it compulsory to install rainwater harvesting system under The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage (Amendment) Act 2009 within  May 27, 2010.




Installing Rainwater harvesting system could substantially address water woes in the city. Rainwater can be harvested either roof-based or land based. Land based rain water is harvested using appropriate ground water recharge structures depending on the nature of the subsoil conditions. Roof-based rain water is harvested through a storage tank, or recharged through an open or bore well in the building irrespective of the nature of sub-soil conditions.

“The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage (Amendment) Act 2009 states that within nine months from the date of commencement of the Act, every owner or occupier of the building having sital area of 2,400 sqft and more, or every owner who proposes to construct a building on a sital area of 1,200 sqft and more, should provide for RWH structure failing which the Board may recover the cost from these owners. The last date for installing the RWH system in these buildings is May 27, 2010,” informs Ramamurthy Chairman, BWSSB.

BWSSB, set up a task force of around 18 senior officials as special officers to monitor water supply in the city during the summer. This team control the supply of water through water tankers to ensure there is no pilferage, verify water complaints, and set up the water supply and valve operation timetables.

Help desk for RWH

To assist the public in the procedure of installing a RainWater Harvesting system, the BWSSB has uploaded all the information on its website including a list of plumbers who are authorised to install the system. According to an official BWSSB is going to the doorsteps of citizens with leaflets of information on RWH systems and the benefits of installing them. BWSSB consumers can contact help desk set up at the Karnataka State Council for Science & Technology, on the Indian Institute of Science campus.

List of trained  plumbers or contractors in rainwater harvesting
Help desk numbers: 23341652,23348848, 23348849

Whom to contact?

Mr. A R Shivakumar,
Principal Investigator RWH.
Karnataka State Council for Science & Technology,
Indian Istitute of Science,
Bangalore-560012.
Tel: 080-23341652, 23448848, 23348849.
E-mail: ars@kscst.iisc.ernet.in.

 
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