Patiala: The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has asked for suggestions and objections under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, from stakeholders to stop misusing fresh water by service stations for washing of vehicles.
Talking to the media here on Monday, PPCB chairman Kahan Singh Pannu said a large number of service stations in Punjab use plunger pumps to wash vehicles, using 150-200 litre fresh water per vehicle.
He said the consumption of water per vehicles would come down to 50 litres if pressure pumps, which are readily available in the market, were used.
Pannu said a study regarding minimization of water consumption at service stations was carried out by the board in Ludhiana, where around 1,700 kilolitre/day of fresh water was used by service stations for washing the vehicles and if these service stations switch over to high-pressure pumps, the consumption will be reduced to 360 kilolitre/day. The move would save around 1,340 kilolitre of fresh water per day, he said. Another study was conducted in Patiala and it revealed that if these service stations reuse the water for first washing after primary treatment, the water consumption can be reduced up to 50%.
Taking these facts into consideration, the board has issued a 21-day notice under Section 33-A of the Act, asking for public opinion and objections in this regard so as to make pressure pumps with hand clutch must for each service station.
Pannu said that hand clutch can increase or decrease water consumption used for washing of a vehicle. Each service station will install a water meter to check the groundwater withdrawal and maintain a daily record of vehicles washed there. All stations using more than 1 kilolitre water per day will provide primary treatment and those with the usage of more than 2 kilolitre of water per day will install complete effluent treatment plant and make arrangement for using the treated water for first washing of the vehicle.
He said that these service stations will ensure that their treated water is either disposed of in the sewer or used for plantation only. This will stop the extensive use of fresh groundwater for the washing of the vehicles.