Coimbatore: The Indian Plumbing Association (IPA) launched a water management campaign in the city to educate the general public on the use of aerators which will save water to the tune of almost 40 percent.
Speaking to the press, T Manickam, chairman, IPA Coimbatore chapter, said, "Most urban centres in India including Coimbatore are already water stressed. Presently, the water requirement of the city is 247 MLD and the current gap in supply and demand is only set to increase. In the next five years it will grow by around 25%. The groundwater table has lowered to 800 to 1,000 feet in rural areas. It is also important to implement solid waste management effectively. Poor management of collection and disposal of solid waste could lead to pollution of surface and ground water."
Speaking about the campaign, Manickam said that as part their plans to save water, the association wants to educate the general public on the use of aerators which will save water to the tune of almost 40 percent. He said, "We are committed to save about 130 crore litres of water this year through the campaign. We will make these aerators available to public at cost price and at strategic locations across the city, so that people can procure them and install them in their houses. We will also be targeting hospitals, hotels, institutions and schools for aerators to be installed. We also plan to set up kiosks across strategic locations on a rotation basis to demonstrate water saving benefit of aerators."
"The IPA has tested the efficiency of the aerator in the International Assoc-iation of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) lab at Bengaluru. Water saving can be achieved throughout the industry by a combination of behavioural change, modifying and replacing equipment with tested and certified water saving equipment and reducing overall water consumption," he added.
The IPA plans to tie with NGO 'Siruthuli' which is already involved in water conservation initiatives. Ramesh Baliga, national executive committee member, IPA Coimbatore chapter, said, "We aim to work together to increase awareness of saving water and spreading the message to all strata of society.”
We are also conducting poster campaigns in schools to instill the message and importance of saving water at a young age itself."
