Bengalureans use double the amount of water they need

TNN / Updated: Mar 22, 2017, 19:34 IST

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There is a lot you can do to save water. Start now

Bengalureans use double the amount of water they need

There is a lot you can do to save water. Start now

The drought is back to haunt the state for the second year in a row, and even though many in the city feel that they are immune to it, the reality is that parts of Bengaluru are already receiving water for just a few hours, two days a week. Today is , and considering the present situation, it is about time each and every one of us do our bit to ensure that we are not left high and dry.There are some simple means by which we can all save a lot of water every day, and these methods are not inconvenient and don’t involve huge sums of money. Ramprasad, convener, Friends of Lakes, an informal group, says, “Living in a city, where water comes easily through a tap, many people tend to not give this resource a lot of importance, when compared to those in villages, where they have to travel long distances just to fetch water. The UN mandates that a person needs 130 litres per day, but in reality, the amount used is much higher — an average Bengalureans uses around 250-300 litres per day. People have to understand that there is unequal distribution of water in the city. Also, there is a lot of energy cost involved in getting water to your doorstep. Water is a common source and is meant for everyone — no one owns it as property.” Ramprasad suggests steps to reduce water wastage

Switch to low-flow pipes and shower heads that reduce water wastage by 50%.
It is important to reuse water. This doesn’t have to be for human touch, but for other uses, such as watering plants, washing cars and for flushing in toilets. Keep a tub under the tap while washing vegetables and use the water collected to water plants.
Those who use washing machines to wash clothes should only do so on a full load. An automatic washing machine uses 5-8 times more water than a bucket. So, don’t use it for washing just 3-4 items of clothing. Instead, wash on a weekly basis, when it is on full load.
Bathing in a bathtub requires 120 litres of water, while otherwise, one can do with only 20-40 litres. Those using showers should use shower heads that release water in the form of bubbles, reducing wastage by 50%-60%.
Traditionally, in many Hindu homes, the compound is cleaned everyday with salt water to remove negativity. This can still be achieved with 2-3 mugs of water, instead of 2-3 buckets.
In the RO method of purification, 50% of water is wasted. People need to check the contents of the water in their area as they may not need to rid all the minerals, which is what happens through RO. Other methods of purification will do if only pathogens need to be removed from water.
Even though we are facing a drought, we are seeing sudden rainfall. Therefore, it is important to do rain water harvesting. The water collected from this method can be utilized immediately or stored in a well, which, in some cases, can last for six months.

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