Navigating the Water Realities II
Understanding Bengaluru's water crisis
"Water (liquids) is essential for other forms of matter such as solids, fire, and gases to carry their taste. Without water, there is no taste." ~ Bhagavad Gita
(This is part II in my Water Realities series. Click here for part I.)
In 2019, a BWSSB official visited our area, possibly for a routine inspection. Upon reaching our home, he advised us to increase our water consumption. We were aware that our monthly usage is lower than the average household due to our water usage habits, but still his statement puzzled me. He warned that failure to increase consumption could lead to the assumption that our home is vacant or that we tampered with the meter, resulting in disconnection. This incident made me reflect on how our governing systems lack processes to promote responsible consumption and can even discourage or harass responsible citizens.
Water Cycles
Accessible fresh water primarily consists of two types: surface water and groundwater. Surface water, which accounts for approximately 4% globally1, is replenished through the cycle of evaporation and precipitation (rainfall), and the introduction of recycled or treated wastewater into lakes and reservoirs. Maintaining a balance during these cycles requires an adequate number of catchment areas and lakes in each locality or zone. Groundwater makes up about 96% of the world's accessible fresh water. It is recharged when a part of lakes, rivers, streams, farm irrigation and flood flow seeps into the ground. Additionally, harvested rainwater and recycled water can be injected into the ground to recharge groundwater sources.
Bengaluru Stats
Bengaluru is not located next to an ocean or on a major river's path. A couple of centuries ago, it housed thousands of natural and man-made lakes. These interconnected water bodies, including the minor yet pristine Vrishabhavati River, supported abundant flora, making Bengaluru the "garden city of Bharat" for many decades. Today, however:
Bengaluru has fewer than two hundred lakes. Vrishabhavati no longer exists. While some lakes were sacrificed for the city's development under deliberate government initiatives, the majority of the lakes vanished due to illegal encroachments, making way for residential and commercial constructions that now irremovable.
There are around 14,000 borewells2, most of which have sprouted in the last two decades and facilitate unrestrained exploitation of groundwater.
The decrease in green cover from 68% in the 1970s to a mere 3% in 2023, is taken over by concrete structures, leaving minimal water-absorbing surface to recharge groundwater.
Bengaluru largely depends on the upward pumping of Cauvery water for its freshwater needs - for a requirement of 2600 million litres per day, around 1500 million litres (including 400 million litres wasted due to leakage) comes from Cauvery. With burgeoning population and infrastructure expansion, this setup has required multiple upgrades (or stages) to constantly play catchup.
Adding to the challenge, BWSSB incurs losses with every unit of supplied water, bearing a cost of around Rs.80 per kilolitre, whereas legal consumers pay Rs.10 to Rs.45 per kilolitre3. Thousands of unmetered illegal connections worsen this financial strain. This loss has hindered efforts in leakage prevention, prompt repairs, and regulatory measures.
All is not doom and gloom, though. Bengaluru has few achievements to its credit. Approximately 50% of the city's wastewater undergoes basic treatment and is repurposed for irrigation in neighbouring towns like Kolar. Bengaluru has one of the best local grid system for water circulation and waste water treatment, earning recognition for its decentralized approach - in contrast to the famed centralized systems of Israel and Singapore. But in the last few years, there have been enough clear indicators suggesting that Bengaluru is closer day-zero than ever - an unwanted distinction that Cape Town managed to avert thanks to the desperate measures by their communities.
Looking Forward
What do we do when we encounter a crisis? If the crisis's root cause is reversible, then we take the steps accordingly. However, if irreversible damage has been caused, we first halt further harm. We then adapt, compensate for and repair the damage, even if we know that the steady state of things may shift. In the case of Bengaluru's water crisis, factors like urbanisation, population increase, rampant encroachment of catchment areas, and mismanagement of water resources are among the main contributors. While we cannot reverse urbanisation or population increase, we can implement better management practices and learn from past mistakes.
"The key to change in a habit is nudge" - Nudge, a book by Nobel Laureate Richard Thaler.
Here I've compiled a few nudges and ideas to stimulate constructive discussion and action.
For national and state level governing bodies:
Establish strategically located reservoirs to capture rainwater during heavy monsoons, while accounting for the increasingly erratic weather patterns.
Regulate the uncontrolled extraction of groundwater by implementing strict guidelines for existing and new borewells. Consider imposing usage fees to encourage responsible usage.
Create a publicly accessible database of lakes, allowing verified community representatives to tag new encroachments. Empower them with direct access to a red-tape-less government panel capable of quick intervention upon encroachment discovery.
Many individuals4 and NGOs are ready to take part in rejuvenation of lakes. Approvals for such activities need to be fast tracked. Recognize the potential threat posed by encroachment mafias and ensure volunteers' security.
Explore the establishment of desalination plants near oceans - the typical capital cost for small reverse osmosis facilities, with capacity for 4.5 million litres per day, is around Rs.10 crores5. Utilize renewable energy and brine dilution techniques to minimize adverse effects on marine life.
There is scope for further treatment of wastewater, which is used for irrigation and non-potable purposes. Enforce stringent policies and ensure traceability in industrial wastewater recycling.
Look into making current concrete pathways and roads more porous - by using known alternative materials.
Expand the mandate for rainwater harvesting beyond newly constructed houses to include existing structures and additional cities. Standardize and monitor the design and implementation of these structures for long-term effectiveness and sustainability.
We must acknowledge and realise that there is no silver-bullet solution. Only a collaborative effort from every stakeholder, across different approaches, can build a sustainable water-resilient future.
(Click here for the concluding part of this series)
Jay Famiglietti, executive director of the Global Institute for Water Security at the University of Saskatchewan.
Your first para about bwssb person as king you to increase consumption - is this really true.
Overall well researched and articulated. I like the section on what we can do.
I remember a journalist/ author saying,no more wars for conquering purpose. Water shortage will cause wars.
Hope us citizens and authorities will be able to reverse the current state and solve this problem.
public and private industry folks will have to join hands. govt lacks the grey matter and private lacks the fire power. together they can conserve water