Environment activists cry for water recycling plant at dhobi ghats in Bengaluru

There are over 30 dhobi ghats in Bengaluru, but none of them has a functioning water recycling plant.

In these dhobi ghats, thousands of litres of water is used for washing clothes on a daily basis. All the washed water goes waste without there being any facility for recycling and reusing that water at these dhobi ghats.

Many NGOs and environment activists have tried to set up water recyling plant, but none of them has materialised owing to various factors including lack of interest and having no realisation on how important reclying of water is.

Experts believe that over 90% of the washed water at dhobi ghats can be recycled and reused by setting up water recycling plants and thousands of gallons of water can be saved from this.

Many cite the high cost and maintenance of water treatment plants as a reason for anyone not showing keen interest in setting up water recycling plants. Though there are water recycling plants at a couple of dhobi ghats, they are not being used properly and have become defunct.

According to Keshava, the president of Bengaluru Dhobi Ghats Association, on an average over one lakh litres of water is used for washing clothes on a daily basis across all dhobi ghats.

Most dhobi ghats use water from underground and open wells as their main source of water for washing clothes.

If government can take notice of the effect of setting up of water recycling plant in saving gallons and gallons of water at dhobi ghats, this could become a great contribution towards the sustainable development goals of the United Nations.