Bengaluru water board issues notice to RWAs over mandatory tap aerators

Bengaluru is currently grappling with one of its most severe water crises even before the peak of summer

Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has begun issuing notices to Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) across the city regarding the mandatory installation of tap aerators.

On March 21, BWSSB announced that the failure by bulk users to install flow restrictors/aerators by March 31 would result in a 50% reduction in water supply and a fine of Rs 5,000.

Moneycontrol accessed a notice issued by BWSSB dated March 27 to an RWA in East Bengaluru regarding the mandatory installation of tap aerators.

Also, read: Bengaluru water crisis: Install aerators in taps or face 50% supply cut and fine, water board tells bulk users

"To mitigate the water demand/crisis, it is necessary to stop the wastage of water through tap leakage. To address this issue, it is mandatory to install water restrictors/aerators in taps, which reduce water wastage by 25-40%. We hope the severity of the water scarcity is well understood", it said.

Further, it reads: "We request you to install water restrictors/aerators by yourself before March 31. Failure to comply will result in a penalty of Rs 5000 under the BWSSB Act 1964, Section 109. Additionally, water supply to your premises will be reduced by 50%, and enforcement actions will be initiated as per norms without further notice," the notice stated.

"BWSSB is providing Cauvery drinking water to consumers regularly as per demand. The Cauvery River basin is the sole source of drinking water for Bengaluru city, and many BWSSB consumers rely on borewell water to meet their regular needs. Due to low monsoon rains this year, the water level in the Cauvery River basin has reached an alarming stage, and many borewells in the city have dried up due to depleting groundwater levels caused by inadequate rainfall. As a result, demand for Cauvery water for residential purposes has significantly increased. Therefore, both the supply and usage of Cauvery water have become critical, especially as summer approaches. Hence, it is necessary to optimize the usage of Cauvery water for day-to-day needs," it adds.

BWSSB on March 21 issued an advisory urging the use of flow restrictors/aerators for bulk users such as malls, commercial complexes, apartments, government buildings, luxury hotels, restaurants, and public areas, including religious places.

Also, read: Water scarcity: Bengaluru water board mandates installation of aerators in taps

BWSSB officials stated that they have commenced issuing notices to all bulk users to install aerators to reduce wastage.

"We will award 'eco-friendly green star awards' to those who comply. If aerators are still not installed, an extra penalty of Rs 500 per day will be imposed," said an official.

Targeting bulk users

"We have begun issuing notices to commercial establishments, major apartment complexes, etc. We prefer not to resort to penalty methods initially; instead, we appeal to them in the first stage. Our aim is to achieve positive compliance. If necessary, we will take penal action against bulk consumers. By targeting bulk users, the potential water savings will be substantial. Our intention is not to impose hardships on people, but rather to conserve water and help the larger public by ensuring safe water availability for those in need." BWSSB chairman V Ram Prasath Manohar told Moneycontrol.

Vikram Rai, president of the Bangalore Apartments Federation, told Moneycontrol: "We have been promoting aerators since 2017, as it is the most cost-effective and efficient water conservation measure. We have also communicated to our members the importance of installing them, as they can significantly reduce water wastage. However, some members have expressed concerns about the short notice and also those without BWSSB water connections. But we are urging all members to comply with this measure, given the water crisis and the broader interests of the city."

Bengaluru water crisis

Bengaluru faces a population of 1.4 crores and a daily water requirement of 2,600 MLD (million liters per day), including 1,450 MLD from the Cauvery River and the remaining 650 MLD comes from groundwater.

The city has a total of 14,000 public borewells, with 11,000 falling under the custody of BWSSB and another 3,000 under BBMP. Around 30 to 40 percent of these public borewells are now dry. For instance, 4,900 out of the 11,000 BWSSB-controlled borewells and an additional 1,200 of the 3,000 BBMP borewells are dry.

Private household borewells are also drying up. Around 4.5 lakh borewells were drilled by individual households and commercial entities in the city over the yearsare now facing depletion. The drying up of public and private borewells has impacted the supply of 650 MLD from groundwater sources.

In peripheral areas lacking piped water supply network, BWSSB's Cauvery Stage-V project aims to reduce the water shortage. Scheduled for commissioning by May 2024, this project will provide an additional 750 MLD to address drinking water needs in 110 villages on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

Also, read: First floods, now dry days: Decoding tech hub Bengaluru’s water woes