BENGALURU: Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is working to direct more grey water from its tertiary treatment plants to industrial areas.
Recently, it has tied up with the gas-based electric plant coming up in Yelahanka to supply it with 60 million litres of water a day (MLD).
BWSSB generates around 600 MLD grey water from tertiary treatment plants in different parts of the city. However, only around five per cent of the treated water is currently being used while the rest is released into the city’s polluted lakes and water bodies.
T M Vijay Bhaskar, Chairperson, BWSSB, said, “We are trying our best to put grey water to better use and stop it flowing into water bodies. It can be used for non-potable purposes, and can help reduce the load on current potable water resources.”
Karnataka State Pollution Control Board had issued an order recommending that treated water be made mandatory for non-potable purposes like washing cars, flushing toilets, washing and watering golf courses and parks.
Grey water from 15 MLD plants in Lalbagh and Cubbon Park is being used for watering in both gardens. Most golf courses also use treated water, and around 10 MLD of grey water is supplied to Bangalore Aerospace Park.
An earlier recommendation to the BWSSB said it should supply treated water to various industrial areas. However, this has not yet been implemented due to lack of supply pipelines.
“We have had many meetings with the stake holders, and the industries are willing to use water from our plants. But we are working towards figuring out transportation,” said Vijay Bhaskar. “Soon our tertiary treatment plant coming up near the airport will start supplying around 40 MLD to industries in the area.”
In addition, BWSSB had held meetings to hasten the laying of pipelines to transport water to Kolar. Under this project, around 400 MLD of treated water will be channelised to rejuvenate dying lakes in that district.
The project had already received government approval and once implemented, it will reduce water wastage.
It is mandatory for all apartments buildings with more than five flats to have their own sewage treatment plants and rain water harvesting systems, and use the grey water for non-potable use.
Currently, the BWSSB is busy laying potable water pipelines and drainage systems. Soon after this, work on grey water pipes will begin. These will reduce the load on the Cauvery water the city is largely dependent on.