Hyderabad to cut groundwater use with treated water from Nov 1

Water board has ordered GPS-tracked, branded tankers, e-POS filling stations and a booking app ahead of the launch.

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) is preparing to launch green water tanker services from November 1, supplying treated sewage water for construction, industries, parks, greenery and other uses that do not require drinking water.

On the directions of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, the board is taking up a special action plan to protect groundwater and reduce pressure on drinking water sources. Water treated at sewage treatment plants (STPs) will be used for construction work, industries, parks, greenery and other non-potable purposes.

HMWSSB Managing Director K Ashok Reddy on Friday, October 23, reviewed the measures being taken to increase the use of alternative water sources in view of the El Nino conditions expected ahead. He directed senior officials to speed up work on infrastructure, tanker registration, filling stations and online booking systems for the service.

Filling stations

Ashok Reddy asked officials to assess area-wise demand for treated water from the construction sector, industries, commercial complexes, government institutions and gated communities. Based on this, nearby government and private STPs are to be identified and green water filling stations set up. He said filling points, platforms, pumping facilities, flow meters and other infrastructure must be provided.

Branded tankers, GPS mandatory

To ensure transparency, every green water tanker must carry special branding and a Global Positioning System (GPS) device. Ashok Reddy asked officials to monitor tanker movements, supply timings and delivery details continuously.

He also directed that electronic point-of-sale (e-POS) machines be installed at every filling station, so that the quantity of water filled, bookings and supply details are recorded digitally.

Online platform from booking to delivery

Ashok Reddy asked officials to prepare a dedicated mobile app that brings tanker registration, customer registration, online booking, tanker allocation, GPS tracking, digital payments and delivery confirmation onto a single platform.

Customers who own tankers will also be able to use the service under the prescribed rules. Customers without tankers will be supplied treated water through tankers registered with the board.

Easing pressure on groundwater

The managing director said measures must be taken so that treated water is used in place of drinking water and groundwater for construction work, plantation, park maintenance, road cleaning and dust control. He directed officials to coordinate with government and private institutions, builders, developers and industry associations to expand the use of green water.

Water quality

Ashok Reddy directed that the quality of treated water at the filling stations be tested continuously. The water must meet the prescribed quality standards and be used only for work that does not require drinking water.

Special campaigns are to be taken up to raise awareness of the service among construction firms, industries and the public. The booking process, details of filling stations and the benefits of using treated water are to be publicised through print, electronic and digital media and social media.

Ashok Reddy told officials to complete all technical and operational arrangements for the November 1 launch within the deadline.

The executive directors of the board’s three regions, Pankaja, Samrat Ashok and Santosh, Technical Director Prabhu, Directors Narayana, Vasa Satyanarayana and Kiran Kumar, chief general managers (CGMs) of various divisions and other senior officials attended the meeting.