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Bengaluru water crisis: Treated water to be filled in drying lakes to replenish groundwater

BWSSB has extended the registration deadlines for water tanker owners till 15 March aimed at encouraging more water suppliers.

ByPTI

Published Mar 10, 2024 | 12:05 PM ⚊UpdatedMar 10, 2024 | 12:05 PM

Bengaluru water crisis Treated water to be filled in drying lakes to replenish groundwater.

Civic authorities in Bengaluru have decided to fill the drying lakes in the city with 1,300 million litres per day of treated water to replenish the groundwater sources, where about 50 percent of the borewells have dried up.

Aimed at managing the water crisis in Bengaluru, the civic body Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) will also install filter borewells and construct water plants using an innovative technology near the restored lake beds to supply water after testing, BWSSB officials said.

This initiative has been taken up in association with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), BWSSB Chairman Ram Prasath Manohar said, adding that it was expected to add about 20–30 megaliters per day (MLD) of water into the system.

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Refilling groundwater sources

The Irrigation Department is supplying water in Devanahalli, where the Kempegowda International Airport is located, by treating the water from Kote lake with a similar initiative.

As part of the plan, lakes in Bellandur, Varthur, Nayandahalli, Herohalli, Attur and Jakkur will be refilled initially, the official said.

Pointing out that Bengaluru requires 2,100 MLD of potable water, out of which 1,450 MLD comes from the Cauvery river, officials sought to ensure that there is sufficient water in the reservoirs to last till July.

The city needs about eight thousand million cubic feet (TMC) from March to May while there is 34 TMC water in reservoirs, the officials said.

The remaining 650 MLD of the city’s water requirement comes from borewell water, they pointed out. There is a 250 MLD deficit here largely due to lack of rains, depleting underground water levels and exploitation of groundwater, they added.

Bengaluru water crisis: ‘City of lakes’ needs more than quick-fix solutions to address water scarcity

Registration deadlines for water tankers extended

Meanwhile, BWSSB has extended the registration deadlines for water tanker owners till 15 March aimed at encouraging more water suppliers. As of date, 1,530 tankers have registered, officials said.

In a bid to tackle the water mafia, the government has taken over private water tankers, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who is also in charge of Bengaluru development, said.

“About 50 percent of the borewells in the city have dried up. We have decided to take control of thousands of private water tankers (by registering) to supply water from sources outside the city. We have left the pricing to officials as factors like distance travelled determine costs. Unused milk tankers will be used to ferry water,” Shivakumar said.

Meanwhile, the Opposition BJP has planned a protest in the city on Monday, 11 March, against the alleged mismanagement of the water crisis in Bengaluru.

Responding to this, Shivakumar said, “If they give any constructive suggestions, we are certainly open to considering them.”

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