Manikonda Apartment Cuts Tanker Dependence To Zero With Rainwater Harvesting
The transformation was achieved under the guidance of HMWS&SB managing director K. Ashok Reddy through the ‘Intinti Inkudu Gunta’ initiative aimed at improving groundwater recharge.
HYDERABAD: What was once an apartment complex struggling with severe water scarcity has now emerged as a model for sustainable water management in Hyderabad. Residents of Anuhar Purple Tunes Apartment in Alkapoor Township, Manikonda, who spent nearly Rs 90,000 on water tankers during last summer, are using a combination of rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge using reject water from reverse osmosis (RO).
The transformation was achieved under the guidance of HMWS&SB managing director K. Ashok Reddy through the ‘Intinti Inkudu Gunta’ initiative aimed at improving groundwater recharge.
Following last year's water crisis, apartment residents approached Satyanarayana, officer on special duty at the board’s water harvesting unit, and constructed a scientifically designed rainwater harvesting pit near the apartment's borewell. Rainwater from rooftops was channelled through a centralised pipeline system directly into the recharge pit, allowing it to seep into the ground and replenish groundwater reserves.
The initiative began yielding results during the monsoon, with groundwater levels rising and borewells that were nearing depletion showing significant improvement. Building on the success, residents introduced another innovative measure this year by diverting reject water from household RO purifiers into the recharge pit instead of allowing it to flow into drains. The continuous flow of RO reject water now contributes to round-the-clock groundwater recharge.
As a result, the apartment's borewell has recovered substantially, enabling residents to meet their water needs without booking a single tanker for the last two-and-a-half months. The initiative has also helped reduce monthly maintenance expenses while ensuring long-term water security.
Reddy said the project demonstrates how community participation and scientific water conservation practices can address urban water shortages. “If we save water today, water will save us tomorrow,” he said, urging more households and apartment complexes to adopt rainwater harvesting systems.