Bengaluru: Ground level sumps crucial to save rainwater

Bengaluru: Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is planning to make ground level sumps mandatory for building and houses that have installed rainwater harvesting.

During a recent meeting many speakers felt that the absence of ground level sump was leading to wastage of rainwater and hence such sumps should be made compulsory.

A senior officer said, “We have found that the buildings which have installed RWH do not have a sump and the water is going waste. When it comes to residential houses, only a few of them have a sump. So, we want to bring in a rule that every building, which has RWH, should have a sump at the ground level.”

Such a sump helps in storing the rainwater, which can be used for domestic purpose, except for drinking, added the officer. “Most buildings do not have proper storage facility, which is leading to wastage of rain water, they have a few tanks and once these get filled, the excess water is let off,” an officer said.

There are also plans to start awareness programmes about the importance of RWH. Another officer said that during the meeting it was also suggested that RWH should made compulsory in every house.

“Everyone are aware about water crisis and we do not know what will be the situation next year, so it is the right time that the BWSSB insists people to install RWH and use the stored rain water, as it will help in reducing the consumption of Cauvery water,” he added.