Gurgaon residents take steps to reduce water consumption, wastage

With summer approaching, residents welfare associations (RWAs) in the city will focus on reducing wastage of water, lesser consumption and use of waste water for various purposes to reduce consumption of treated water.The RWA members of different areas will also ensure that storm water drains and rainwater harvesting pits are cleaned before the monsoon so that water can easily flow into pits.

In 2016, Suncity Township in Sector 54, Golf Course Road, had dug pits to prepare for the monsoon. They dug four pits, each 40-foot deep, to help recharge groundwater. “We have been suffering because of flooding in our township; this (the pits) will benefit everyone if the water collected is allowed to recharge the underground aquifers,” VMK Singh, general secretary, Suncity RWA, said.

Park View Residency in Sector 3 has three fully operational rainwater harvesting pits. “We get them cleaned every year and 50% water supply comes from groundwater. It helps in maintaining groundwater level,” SC Kumar, president of the RWA, said.

Nirvana Country in Sector 50 has also dug 14 rainwater harvesting pits to facilitate groundwater recharge. “Water collected from rooftops will be channelled in these pits and it will then seep into the ground. We have connected every house to the rainwater harvesting pit,” Sanu Kapila, president, Nirvana Country RWA, said.

Condominiums are getting rainwater harvesting pits cleaned in a bid to prevent waterlogging and enable groundwater recharge.

DLF New Town Heights condominium association in sectors 86,90 and 91 have issued guidelines to residents to avoid wastage of water. Cleaning of pits will start next month.

"Water is a precious commodity and we have been periodically spreading awareness amongst the residents that due care should be taken against any wastage. On Water Conservation Day, we had emphasized that mere small steps in domestic use can significantly contribute towards overall water conservation." said Col. Tejbir Singh AVP (Township), DLF.

Nirvana Country also has borewells for water supply and the society generally does not face a shortage in summer. However, residents feel they should do their part to save water.

Many sectors have made it mandatory for residents to have rooftop rainwater harvesting facilities so that they do not face any water crisis.

“We do recycling of waste water through a sewage treatment plant and improved water efficiency, thereby, reducing consumption in our condominium. We collect water by connecting drain pipes to water butts and use it for washing cars, cleaning windows and watering plants...Also, gardens are watered only in early morning and late evening as it reduces evaporation,” Vikash Shahi of Mapsko Casa Bella, Sector 82, said.

Malibu Towne, Mayfield Gardens, Sector 45, and Vatika City, which already have rainwater harvesting systems in place, will get them cleaned before the monsoon.