Greens at Raj Bhavan, Hanging Gardens and Priyadarshini Park will soon be watered with recycled sewage water. The BMC has decided to set up a sewage treatment plant at Banganga pumping station, where water will be recycled and supplied to these gardens.
The municipal body has decided to set up small-scale sewage treatment plants at its satellite pumping stations across the city. The Banganga plant will treat three million litres daily (mld) water.
“Based on the benefits of this plant, we would try to set up sewage water recycling at other satellite pumping stations,” said a senior civic official from the sewage water disposal department.
The BMC has already built sewage treatment plants at Worli Lovegrove and Colaba pumping stations. Thirty-lakh litres of water recycled at Worli Lovegrove is used for surrounding gardens, Mahalaxmi Race Course and the garden in Willingdon Sports Club, while 50,000 litres of recycled water at Colaba pumping station is supplied to nearby gardens.
Against the demand of 4,200 mld, Mumbai gets only 3,450 mld water. Of this about 60 per cent is used for non-potable purposes like washing, gardening etc. According to civic officials, the water supply demand has been increasing continuously due to rising population. With rains playing truant these days, the stocks are limited, which compels the BMC to plan its use by making water cuts. In such circumstances, the use of recycled sewage water for purposes other than drinking can be a better option.
“Hence it was decided that instead of setting up sewage treatment plant at terminal pumping station, small capacity sewage treatment plants will be set up in various satellite sewage pumping stations across the city and use their recycled water for other purposes in the neighbouring areas,” said a senior civic official.