Bengaluru water crisis: Can use of aerators stop water wastage?

India’s Silicon Valley, Bengaluru, is experiencing one of the biggest water crises in its history as a result of declining groundwater levels, shrinking reservoirs, an absence of rainfall, dried-up borewells, and supply interruptions.

In an effort to combat this severe situation, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has come up with a simple and cost-effective method of reducing water wastage.

Aerators in taps for large users must be installed by 31 March, it said, as per Moneycontrol.

“It is now mandatory for apartments, commercial establishments, industries, luxury hotels, restaurants, and public spaces to install aerators in their taps,” BWSSB chairman V Ram Prasath Manohar, said in a statement on 19 March.

In addition, he urged every household to voluntarily use them.

The Water Board took the lead and put aerators in its head office on Tuesday. It plans to install them in the other offices as well, according to The Times of India.

Here’s all we know about it.

What are aerators?

Aerators are small add-ons that fit into the spout or are attached to the end of water taps. It is designed to regulate the flow of water from taps to prevent wastage.

There are three main types available depending on the stream patterns: aerated (standard spray of air mixed with water), laminar (non-splashing solid stream), and spray (miniature shower), as per The News Minute. In India, aerators come in a variety of sizes and designs, with prices ranging from Rs 150 to Rs 650.

Aerators are the single best water-saving method that can be used in houses, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency.

The Deccan Herald reports that a tap aerator can save over 50 per cent of the water used in kitchen and hand wash sinks by reducing the water flow from 12–18 litres per minute to three–six litres per minute without compromising functionality.

Installing aerators on 95 per cent of taps can save up to 1,274 litres of water each month, according to estimations.

How does it work?

Aerators cut down on the amount of water that runs through the tap by simply incorporating air into the flow.

“The mini-marvels separate the single flow of water into many tiny streams and surround these with air. That means there is less space for the water to pass through but the introduction of air into the mix ensures that there is no perceivable reduction in water pressure,” explained SMCC.com.

As a result, less water is used, and aerators reduce splashing in sinks.

What did the water supply board say?

Manohar outlined the timeline for implementation, according to Moneycontrol, stating, “From 21 to 31 March, a voluntary 10-day window is provided for aerator installation. After the 31 March deadline, BWSSB will install aerators in all establishments where they have not been installed. These installations will be carried out by accredited plumbers, with the expenses borne by the owners of the respective establishments.”

In an order on 20 March, he asked people to voluntarily adopt aerators.

This rule will apply to all taps used for cleaning, including those in restrooms and handwashing sinks, as well as taps used for hand and foot washing in public spaces like shopping centres, restaurants, and workplaces.

There are 15,000 licenced plumbers in the city, according to BWSSB.

To raise awareness of the advantages of adding aerators when building new structures, the board will host training sessions, as per TOI.

The BWSSB will award an appreciation certificate to the plumbers who have installed the most aerators.

How bad is Bengaluru’s water crisis?

For weeks, even before summer arrived, Bengaluru was plagued by a water crisis.

Only those that receive piped water from rivers outside Bengaluru are still getting regular supply, as per Mint.

The government of Karnataka reports that out of the 13,900 borewells that were sunk in the city, 6,900 have dried up, even though some of them were drilled as deep as 1,500 feet. Muthuvel and other groundwater-dependent areas are now dependent on water tankers that get water from neighbouring villages.

By the end of the decade, more than 40 per cent of Bengaluru residents, according to Centre estimates from 2018, won’t have access to drinking water.

Amid this, consumers are reportedly stung by high vegetable costs as supplies have taken a hit. People seeking to buy a property in  Bengaluru  are reassessing their decision as several parts of Karnataka’s capital reel under a water crisis. A recent report by Nasscom-Deloitte has found that due to these civic issues, IT companies are now open to expanding their operations beyond Karnataka’s capital.

The water crisis in Karnataka’s capital is only expected to get worse as mercury climbs up in summer. Bengaluru’s water woes are also likely to affect its real estate market, with potential buyers reconsidering their investments.

With inputs from agencies