representative image Hyderabad: Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) has decided to serve notices to over 17,000 property owners who have not made rainwater harvesting pits. If they fail to install these structures by December 31, they will have to pay double the tariff for water tankers from January 1, 2025.
According to a survey conducted by the Jal Board, 42,000 structures spread over an area of 300 square meters or more need rainwater harvesting structures. Currently, 22,000 buildings have rainwater harvesting pits, while 17,000 properties have no such structure.
In United Andhra Pradesh, under APWALTA 2002, installation of rainwater harvesting structures in buildings with plot areas of more than 200 square metres, was mandatory. However, this requirement was later revised to 300 square meters and above. The objective of this regulation is to promote water conservation and increase the groundwater level.
In this regard, the Water Board has started sending notices to property owners who have not constructed water harvesting structures. The notice being sent to property owners said residents were requesting tankers despite having existing water connections. Additionally, it has been observed that these consumers either lack rainwater harvesting facilities in their premises or have non-functional systems. The notice advises consumers to install rainwater harvesting structures with injection wells/shafts, and if such systems already exist, they should be renovated and maintained in proper working condition.
“We are issuing notices for the first time targeting properties without water harvesting pits. We have already assessed 39,000 properties out of the 42,000 buildings identified, with the entire survey expected to be completed within a fortnight. Water The Board takes a strong position with regard to water harvesting facilities and requires all residences to install these systems, failing which they will have to pay double the amount for water tanker services. Fees have to be paid,” says J Satyanarayana, consultant, Rainwater Harvesting Structures, HMWS&SB.
In the survey that began in June, officials found that rainwater harvesting systems in gated communities and large apartment complexes were well maintained. In contrast, these facilities in other residential buildings were found to be in poor condition and in need of maintenance.
