Bengaluru: Water crisis may hit Bengaluru in a big way but residents of Sai Sunshine Apartment in Hulimavu have shown the way forward to utilise every drop of water that reaches them.
The water requirements of Sai Sunshine Apartment with a terrace area of 45,000 sq.ft and 94 dwellers is self-sufficient. They are no longer dependent on water
tankers and are not even waiting for the Cauvery River water to be made available to them either.
The entire transformation came about in two years. The residents pooled in Rs 3.50 lakh to implementation a rainwater harvesting system.
Shenoy H V, the treasurer of the apartment committee said during last February they used to hire 6 to 7 water tankers a day which continued till July. “We saw
that the pipelines linked to RCC were not working as everything was linked to the public gutter, he says.
“Initially, we started going about the task by finding out why water was not going into the well. It came to light that there was no pipeline connection. To show
that there is a well, two wells of two feet wide and 8 feet depth were dug with small pipe connections given which were of no use,” he says.
Later, residents three wells dug that were 4 feet wide and 20 feet deep. The entire building’s water pipes were checked and verified and new 6 inches pipes were
installed.
As many as 28 spots were identified to bring water that falls on 45,000 sq.ft area of terrace to the wells. All the water reached the three wells. The wells were dug
within a distance of 10-15 feet away from the borewell. Initially, the water intake was reduced to two from six tankers. In January, they got another borewell in
the premises and yet another well was constructed.
Shenoy explains that they are planning to dig two more wells in the premises.
The wells: The water should be stored 20 feet inside and if there is a stone it will not reach the ground. So, the well could be dug in another place. “The wells can
be dug in one or two days. For three wells, it costed Rs 1.20 lakh. The wells are 4 feet wide and 20 feet deep. The cost includes the installation of ring and soil
shifting.
Balasabramani M, former joint secretary of apartment management committee and a deputy general manager in a corporate company explained that the filtered
water they are getting from the borewell is fine. There is some difference when compared to Cauvery water; however, it is definitely better than water supplied
through tankers. There is no health issue reported due to water, he says.
Water rationing
Balasubramani says though there is enough water presently, water rationing has been enforced. This is to create awareness among residents that there might be
bad days ahead.
The objective is to ensure judicious use of water. Every day, between 12.20 pm and 3.30 pm water supply is stopped. All residents are cooperating, he underlines.
It remains to be seen whether the example set by the Sai Sunshine Apartments near Nano hospital Nyanappanahalli, Hulimavu will inspire other residents of
apartments to initiate water harvesting.
