With only 27 percent water available in seven lakes, the summer will be a challenge for both civic body and residents. Madhukar Kamble, former hydraulic engineer of BMC shared some of steps to preserve water to meet future demands.
With lake levels depleted to 25 percent, how should this situation be handled?
Depleting water level all across has become a natural phenomenon with global warming as one of the root cause. There is a need of proper planning of water preservation. There is no scope of lackadaisical approach. The situation will aggravate in the years to come and proper planning and preservation of natural resources can help.
Do you think the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has taken enough steps to combat this situation?
The BMC announced water cuts in November last year which was a good step to save water to meet demands till monsoon arrived. However, the civic body has to take other steps as well as create awareness among people, like putting banners, using media including social media to save water among others to save as much as water to continue supply.
Also Read: Ticking tinderbox of depleting water levels in Mumbai
What should be the long term plan to save water?
Save water from wastage. We all know that around 25 per cent of water gets wasted during transmission. The civic body should take war-footing measures to tap leakages in the distribution system. Imagine if there is no wastage of water through leakage or illegal withdrawal of water, there was no need of water cut and today we would sufficient water to meet the demand.
Is citizen's participation is important?
The administration cannot solve the problem alone. Citizens need to think that natural resources are limited and they can use it for a longer period if they use it judiciously. Like a common people use his or her salary in way to meet whole months requirement and save enough to meet future needs, the water can also be used in same way to meet today's requirement and future need.
What kind of administrative action is required?
There is a need of water audit of each and every building. The audit will check leakages, overflowing water tanks etc. If there is any fault in the part of residents, a strict action must be taken.
Do you think that BMC needs to stress on recycle and reuse water?
Many countries have already been doing this. BMC has six sewage treatment plant and only two of them are treating water upto level that can be used for other than potable. This will solve major water woes.