After allegations that the civic body has been wasting close to 1.5 million litres of treated water into the sea for lack of a distribution network, it is now banking on organisations like the fire br
After allegations that the civic body has been wasting close to 1.5 million litres of treated water into the sea for lack of a distribution network, it is now banking on organisations like the fire brigade to use this 1.5 million litres of treated water.
It has set up filling spots at treatment plants in the city, which will be open to private and non-private tankers at the prevalent market rates. The civic body has anticipated that this water will be used for fire fighting, for construction purposes, for watering gardens, and maintaining lawns. The BMC currently lacks a network to distribute this treated water to its own gardens or open spaces. This water can prove to be useful for maintaining gardens and lawns, at a time when the city is facing a water crisis.
While this move is welcome news for private tanker owners in the city, the fire brigade remains sceptical about exposing its machinery to non-potable water.
An official said, “Even though this will be a great resource, primary treated water generally spoils our machinery.”
Meanwhile, Jitu Shah, who owns Visha enterprises, a private tankers’ company, said, “If that much more water is available to us we will willingly purchase it for supply to construction sites and private gardens. There is a shortage of water in the city now and we have been feeling the pinch.”
Currently, about 3.5 million litres of treated water is generated in the city daily.
Of this, 2 MLD is supplied to the Wellingdon Club and the Turf Club Race Course. The remaining 1.5 MLD will now be available at filling spots.
This water is generated at treatment plants in Banganga, Malad, lovegrove and Bandra.
