Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has initiated a community rainwater harvesting (RWH) program aimed at enhancing water conservation efforts across the city. Following initiatives urging residents to install RWH systems, BWSSB now focuses on utilizing untapped spaces within apartment complexes for community-level RWH.
In the first phase, BWSSB plans to harness rainwater from areas within 17 selected apartment complexes that were previously excluded from individual RWH systems. The collected rainwater will be diverted to nearby lakes, contributing to groundwater recharge initiatives.
Explaining the rationale behind the initiative, a senior BWSSB official highlighted that while many apartments have RWH systems for rooftop rainwater, community RWH will utilize water from passages and larger unused spaces.
We’ve mapped out 17 apartment complexes and identified nearby lakes within 100-200 meters, stated BWSSB Chairman Ramprasat Manohar V. This proximity ensures efficient utilization of rainwater without incurring excessive pipeline costs.”
To facilitate the project, BWSSB will commence pipeline installations connecting these complexes to designated lakes like Saul Kere in Bellandur, Hoodi Lake, and Sheelavanthakere in Whitefield. Funding for the initiative comes from penalties imposed on households failing to comply with state-mandated RWH system installations.
Sources said that, BWSSB has collected approximately Rs 36 crore through penalties and continues to collect around Rs 1 crore monthly. This funding mechanism supports efforts to expand water conservation initiatives, aligning with broader sustainability goals for Bengaluru.
