BMC approves by-laws, making recycling plants mandatory for buildings beyond a certain size.
Mumbaikars residing in high-rises will soon have to switch their water consumption patterns so that residents of smaller housing societies get their quota of the municipal water supply. Law committee of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), on Tuesday, unanimously approved by-laws that make recycling of grey water (wastewater) mandatory for all high-rises, which have sufficient space to create a wastewater collection and recycling plant.
According to the by-laws, housing premises with an area of more than 2,000 square metre, or premises that have more than 60 dwellings will be required to recycle wastewater. The rule will also be applicable for all those buildings, societies and townships where the daily municipal water consumption is above 60,000 litre.
While the rule is applicable to all new constructions, it will also cover existing structures that fall in the criteria and have adequate space to create the treatment facility. The only exception made is for structures where such a facility can’t be created due to structural or physical reasons.
According to a senior engineer from the sewarage department, the move is aimed at limiting the usage of municipal water only for potable purposes. “The recycled greywater could be used for most non-potable purposes,” the engineer said. The BMC is hoping to save at least 200 million litre of water daily by implementing the rule. The water saving, said a hydraulic department official, numerically put, would be able to quench the thirst of 22 lakh people.
To make existing buildings comply with the norm, the BMC has decided to levy a minimum fine of Rs5,000 on those who refuse to setup a treatment facility. According to the civic official, creating a water treatment facility was cost-effective and in the long-term interest of even the societies.
“The water bill will go down substantially as the water consumption will decrease,” the official said. “The setting up of such a facility could cost a society anywhere between Rs5-7 lakh. To encourage citizens to back the green initiative, the BMC has also proposed a 25% rebate in water and sewerage tax.”
The by-laws will now be put before the civic general body meeting before being incorporated as a law. The process will take about two months, added the official.
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