18 June,2026 08:39 AM IST | Mumbai | Sarthak Mehta
Jet pressure waterheads and recycled STP water are used for cleaning and gardening at Ashoka Towers, helping cut fresh water consumption
While thousands of housing societies and commercial establishments across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region are increasingly relying on tankers and borewells to cope with water cuts, a handful of residential and commercial complexes are sailing through the crisis with little disruption.
Their secret is not access to extra water, but years of investment in conservation measures such as sewage treatment plants (STPs), rainwater harvesting, aerators, flow restrictors, and water recycling systems.
mid-day reached out to three such establishments to understand how long-term planning has helped them remain largely self-sufficient even as the region grapples with shrinking water supplies.
A water-saving aerator fitted on a tap at Millennium Towers in Sanpada. The device mixes air with water, reducing consumption without compromising pressure.
What they did
>> Installed a sewage treatment plant (STP)
>> Fitted aerators and flow restrictors
>> Installed pressure-reducing valves
>> Introduced water metering
>> Compost organic waste
>> Use treated water for recharge and other purposes
Result
>> No water shortage despite ongoing supply cuts
>> Generating surplus treated water
Ramakrishna Damaraju, secretary
âOurs is an older building. We don't have any green certification or formal obligation. We still decided to go green in 2015. We got our own STP, installed water aerators, flow regulators, offset our electricity consumption and turn our garbage into compost. We aren't facing any water crisis. We are generating excess STP water which we even offer for nearby requirements or groundwater recharge'
Jet pressure waterheads and recycled STP water are used for cleaning and gardening at Ashoka Towers, helping cut fresh water consumption
A technician installs an aerator on a faucet at Ashoka towers
What they did
>> STP for non-potable water
>> Water aerators
>> Pressure washing systems
>> Restricted car washing
>> Water-saving advisory for residents
>> Suspended fountain, swimming pool
Result
>> Less impact from current water cuts
Neeshant Bhoir, property manager
âWe haven't faced any severe shortage yet, but still, we have sent a 14-point guideline on saving water to all residents. Car washing has been limited; have checked for defunct water aerators and reinstalled them. We already have an STP which takes care of our non-potable water needs. The water fountain has been halted'
What they did
>> 400 KLD sewage plant
>> Rainwater harvesting
>> Water aerators
>> Half-glass water service policy
>> Linen replacement every third day unless requested
>> Extensive water recycling
Result
>> Significant reduction in daily water consumption
>> Self-sufficient for most non-potable requirements
Manoranjan Panda, director of engineering
âWe aren't experiencing any shortage of water because, for non-potable uses, we are self-dependent. For potable municipal water as well, we have policies in place that are helping. Our servers only fill half a glass of water by default and refill if customers request more. Guests on long stays get linen changes every third day instead of daily unless requested otherwise. Our STP fulfils gardening and AC requirements. Adoption of simple water aerators reduced our per occupied room daily water consumption from 650 litres to 500 litres'
TV Shah, Retired engineer, formerly with BMC hydraulics department
âHousing societies need to understand that sourcing untreated water from borewells and tankers is not an ideal solution. Groundwater in metropolitan areas like Mumbai is often of poor quality. The BMC also needs to step up treatment capacity so residents are not expected to create complex treatment systems on their own'
Udaykumar Shirurkarm Retired civic official and former assistant municipal commissioner
âWhen I was at AMC, I advocated installing aerators on taps and faucets. It is one of the simplest ways to reduce water consumption by up to four times without affecting convenience. The corporation also needs to crack down on water theft, which not only wastes water but can contaminate supply lines'
Zulfiqar Sajid Varawalla, Managing partner, SARIN
âAerators, flow restrictors and regulators are available for practically every application, including taps, showers and kitchen faucets. Yet adoption remains low because people do not fully appreciate the value of water. If adopted widely, these devices alone can reduce water consumption by at least 50 per cent'
20-60%
Reduction in water use through aerators and flow restrictors
20-50%
Reduction in fresh water consumption through STP-treated water
100%
Sewage water that can potentially be treated and reused where adequate STP capacity exists
