WATER CONSERVATION FOR RESIDENTIAL UNITS AND BUILDING SOCIETIES

Importance of Water Conservation in Residential Units/ Building Societies

According to a United Nations Water Development Report (2020), climate change will be a constant as is evident, and if not urgently responded to, will adversely impact billions of human lives and our planet on account of the scarcity of clean water. The report underscores the need to tackle the challenges posed by climate change, and how one can adapt and mitigate the crisis, taking advantage of the opportunity that improved water management can offer.

The scarcity of this precious resource, will affect the availability of not only quantity, but also the quality of water – for survival, for proper sanitation, health- related issues, food security, sustainable economic development, and importantly alleviation of poverty for the most vulnerable amongst billions of people. Here is an alarming imagery from aqua-analytics.com

The Government of India’s Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) has a Mission to complete: Har Ghar Jal, under the aegis of Jal Jeevan Mission, and believe in ‘changing lives’ by ‘building partnerships.’

From the above illustration, we can see just the states of Goa and Telangana to have achieved 100% tap water connections for their citizens. Therefore, it becomes imperative for each of us to pick up the challenge, starting from our very own homes, while Governments and world organisations dealing with climate change and its impact, generate effective policies and methods for mitigation of this crisis.

RainManSpeaks from Bangalore: Useful “Used WATER”

To highlight the volume of water that is discharged from households as waste water, consider a sample area in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra Pin Code 410218, in Raigad District. Volume of Potable Water supplied to residential premises is 22 Million Litres per day (MLD) approximately, out of this around 17-20 MLD approximately flows out as waste water, and discharged into the creeks after being treated in STPs (Sewage Treatment Plant) to make it safe for the environment. (Source: Waterworks dept-CIDCO)

Going by the above data, it therefore becomes a priority for each of us to implement safe and approved methods of reuse/recycle of waste water, as an urgent mitigation measure in tackling climate change and freshwater scarcity.

Residential societies and individuals can put this Raw Water to use in toilets, and to water gardens and parks. The same can be used in industrial units.

Some uses of Greywater or used water in domestic units can lead to effective conservation of good quality water or fresh water, a life-critical resource which is fast depleting.

(image source: rainmanspeaks.blogspot.com/201407/useful-used-water.html)

(Illustrations for reference only to show use of Grey water, or water that has been already used for laundry, bathing, washing dishe- Bing Images )

The results arising out of conservation at every step in a vast majority of households will lead to abundance of potable water suitable for human consumption.

It is suggested that the use and application of RO (Reverse Osmosis) technology may be effective in converting treated RAW water to make it POTABLE, and will bring huge savings towards conservation efforts of this natural resource

SUITABILITY FOR USE OF DIFFERENT GRADES OF WATER

Grey Water: Water from a potable source that has already been used for bathing, washing, laundry or washing dishes

Waste Water: Combined domestic effluent that contains sewage

Reclaimed Water: Water that has been treated so that its quality is suitable for particular specified purposes, for example irrigation, toilet flushing, etc.

Green Water: Reclaimed water that has been treated to a relatively high standard, suitable for general use as a non-potable source in parallel with the potable source. It may be identified through inclusion of a green dye and supplied through a dedicated pipework system

Drinking Water: Very high-quality water / Potable water suitable for human consumption

What is Grey Water?

2000 Uniform Plumbing Code illustrated training manual published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials defines greywater as “untreated household wastewater which has not come into contact with toilet waste. Greywater includes used water from bathtubs, showers, bathroom wash basins, and water from clothes washing machines and laundry tubs. It shall not include wastewater from kitchen sinks or dishwashers” (IAPMO 2000).

What is Waste Water or Black water?

Waste Water or Black Water consists of discharges from toilets and urinals, and contain high levels of pathogens and solids. Black Water discharges need to undergo specialized treatment prior to any secondary use, ensuring strict adherence to the operation and use within a controlled environment for subsoil discharge and without ground water contamination.

CHALLEGES– While there remains a psychological barrier in the minds of people, waste water and grey water use are becoming a popular method of combining water and nutrient recycling for specific use including irrigation of food and non-food crops, industrial use, for watering green spaces and arid land, and sanitation. The end use of waste water determines the quality of water and adherence to procedures that ensure safety. These are as per WHO guidelines and standards for safe use of waste water in agriculture and similar spaces, and this also eases up pressure to use up freshwater for non-potable waste. (Ref: WHO2006a)

Rainwater may be harvested not only for cities and towns for residential units, but also for industrial and public spaces, specifically for collection and distribution in drought prone regions.

Let us do our bit for our Planet and eradicate such situations and graver ones, forever…

(Pic Source: L-thenewsminute.com; R-newscentral24x7)

Resources:

JJM Dashboard (ejalshakti.gov.in)

UN World Water Development Report 2020

The Hans India: universaltechtrade/com STP image

RainManSpeaks from Bangalore: Useful “Used WATER”(rainmanspeaks.blogspot.com/201407/useful-used-water.htm International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials

(Source: https://aqua-analytics.com)

(source: waterjpi.eu)

(source:ejalshakti.gov.in)

(image source: rainmanspeaks.blogspot.com/201407/useful-used-water.html)