Surplus treated water becomes problem as local demand dwindles

BWSSB restricts release of excess treated water into nearby lakes

Apartments resort to illegal disposal into underground drains

Bengaluru’s apartment complexes grapple with a surplus of treated water as local demand dwindles, sparking a storage dilemma.

Despite daily treatment of significant volumes of water, these apartment complexes face restrictions from the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and the National Green Tribunal (NGT), preventing them from releasing the excess treated water into nearby lakes or underground drainage. BWSSB suggests diverting this water to industries, but reluctance from potential recipients hampers this solution.

Meanwhile, Bengaluru faces a looming threat of its Cauvery water supply dwindling, and groundwater levels in non-piped areas continue to decline. The South City apartment complex, for instance, treats 7 lakh litres of water daily, but struggles to find storage for the excess 4 lakh litres of treated water other than the 3 lakh litres used for various purposes.

Several apartment associations have sought permission to discharge unused treated water into lakes or underground drainage, yet both requests have been denied by BWSSB and NGT. Mandatory sewage treatment plants for new apartment constructions have exacerbated the issue, with an estimated 7,200 lakh litres of treated water going waste on a daily basis.

In desperation, some apartments resort to illegal disposal into underground drains due to space constraints. As local water demand decreases and storage challenges persist, the surplus treated water remains a pressing issue for Bengaluru’s apartment communities.