BWSSB find new methods to quench Bengaluru’s thirst

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has gone a step ahead in providing drinking water and treating sewage water in the city. With Bengaluru growing exponentially and facing a severe water crisis, the BWSSB has come up with initiatives like ‘rainwater harvesting’ to tackle water shortages.

Water Conservation
Bengaluru’s population has grown, but its sources of water have remained the same, putting pressure on BWSSB. Conservation of water has become an important aspect of water management in the city. BWSSB has been treating approximately 418 million litres of wastewater every day. This includes 70 million litres per day of tertiary treatment capacities, which treat wastewater coming from sinks, showers, toilets, and backyard drains.

This is equal to three stages of Cauvery river water projects. The wastewater, treated at six sewerage treatment plants in the city, is discharged into waterways, or recycled for reuse.

Rain Water Harvesting (RWH)
With the city facing a perennial water crisis, rainwater harvesting has been made mandatory at all homes in the city. The government has set a deadline for house owners to adopt RWH. Any property measuring 40×50 sqft has to install RWH. BWSSB has also issued guidelines for installing such devices. Many homes, establishments and government institutions have adopted the system.

Pay water bill online
BWSSB customers can register on the board’s official website and can view their bill details. Dues can also be paid online.

Water Adalat
The BWSSB conducts water adalats every week at all its divisions in the city. At these adalats people can share their problems related to water connection and billing which would be addressed by the jurisdictional BWSSB engineer.

Special officer for public grievances
BWSSB has deputed special officers at its 26 sub-divisions to hear grievances of the public, who can lodge complaints regarding piped water and tanker water supply between 7 am and 9 am.

Consumer survey form
BWSSB customers can logon to http://bwssb.org/?p=310 [1] and fill a form which contains questions pertaining to BWSSB’s performance. They can share their experience related to billing, quality of water, behavior of BWSSB officials, etc.