We must be mindful of our water consumption

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For the second time in two weeks, some Mumbaikars relied on water tankers, as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) imposed a 30-hour water cut recently to commission a new water tunnel. The water supply to certain wards was affected. The civic body had previously carried out an 18-hour water cut on April 23.

The water tunnel project involves connecting a new tunnel from Amar Mahal (Hedgewar Udyan) in Chembur to Pratiksha Nagar in Sion, which further links to Parel, the Trombay reservoir, and the Turbhe high-level and low-level reservoirs.

As infrastructure needs to be upgraded, and pipes, etc, are replaced, there are bound to be disruptions in water supply and shortages. First, whether there is a shortage or regular flow, we must save water through small measures like using buckets instead of showers, using water wisely while washing cars and turning off taps when not needed, in our daily life. It is surprising to see how much water one can save if there is awareness and intent to do so, and we are mindful of saving every drop from the time we get up to the time we retire for the day. Then, that becomes part of our DNA and how we live.

There is just so much an individual can do, though. Local leaders must see that water tanker operators providing their services at a uniform rate, and there is a regulation on prices for a water tanker. Since water is essential, people and housing societies are held to ransom by many water tanker services, especially during crunch time. The water tanker mafia is born out of these crises.