Hyderabad: With water always a concern, the Water Board has come up with an idea to recycle the waste water of apartment complexes and gated communities using mini sewerage treatment plants (STPs). It is estimated that 60 per cent of the water can be reused and used for all purposes except drinking.
The first mini STP will be set up at the Jalagam Vengal Rao Park on a pilot basis.
The STPs will be constructed by pooling funds, which the residents would have to contribute. However, to promote the STPs the Water Board is also offering a rebate of 50 per cent on water bills.
“A 35 per cent sewerage cess is added to every Rs 100 bill. So bulk consumers, especially industrialists, whose monthly water consumption is 50-100 KLD and whose bills run into lakhs will benefit from the recycling,” said S. Prabhakar Sharma, director HMWS&SB (technical). In gated communities and apartments water consumption is high and those who employ mini STPs would benefit from the rebate.
The mini STPs work on the principle of Reduce, Recycle and Reuse. The authorities say that the R3 system is widely used in developed countries. Mini STPs employ Aeration and Reverse Osmosis (RO) to treat the water.
However, the cost of the STP might be a setback. It is estimated that the cost would be around Rs 1 crore. The Board would only give technical support. The gated communities have to bear the cost.
There is also a proposal for the Water Board to bear half the construction cost. However, the debt ridden Water Board is unlikely to accept the proposal.
