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21 June 2008

WATER RECYCLING SYSTEM

Water is a scarce resource and due to its limited supply, the population of urban areas remain always in the grip of water shortage. At present, the quality of water used for watering the garden, washing the clothes and flushing the toilets is the same quality as the water we take for drinking purpose. At least, we can flush toilets by recycling the waste water in a house. With the application of new technology i.e. recycling of waste water, about 33% of urban water can be saved / reutilized. The Government can solve this problem to great extent by making the recycling of waste water as compulsory by way of amending

the Building Bye laws enforceable by Town and Country Planning Department, Civic Bodies and Urban Development Authorities.

Types of Waste Water Produced In The Houses:-

Every house in urban areas produces two types of waste water i.e. grey water and black water. The waste water which is produced from baths, showers, clothes washers, and wash-hand basins is termed as grey water whereas the wastewater generated from toilets is called black water. Wastewater produced from the kitchen sinks and dish-washers is also called black water due to their higher organic contents. The grey water is considered of lesser quality than potable water, but at the same time it is considered of higher quality than black water.

Water Utilization Pattern in Urban Centres:-

The water utilization pattern of a town can be generalized from the water utilization pattern of a house which is described in the following chart. Out of total water consumption of a house, 33 % water is consumed in flushing toilets, 34 % water is utilized for bathing and washing of clothes and rest of the water is utilized for other purposes as described in the following chart.

The Nature of Water Recommended For Recycling :-

The present society, through traditional practice, flushes toilets through potable high quality water i.e. the water which is being used for drinking purpose. Whereas, toilets can be flushed with waste water i.e. grey water generated from baths, showers, cloth washers and wash hand basins by recycling the same through a system described in the following diagram. In this way, Government can save 33 % of total water supply or it can be termed as augmentation of water supply by 33 % without spending any money on additional infrastructure as this proposition is by making provision of this system in the Building Bye Laws which are enforceable through Town And Country Planning Department, Civic Bodies and Urban Development Authorities.

Mechanism Of Waste Water Recycling :-

For the recycling of waste water / grey water, the house owner has to construct a separate waste water ( grey Water ) Tank below the ground level. All waste water of the house would get collected in this tank through waste water pipes. From this tank, waste water is again uplifted to a separate waste water tank placed on the terrace of a house which would supply water regularly for flushing the toilets constructed underneath of the said tank placed on the terrace. This mechanism evolved very minor changes of plumbing works. As per traditional technology, the waste water pipes are connected with the sewerage pipes at various levels. In the present case, instead of connecting waste water with the sewerage line of the house, such lines are connected with the tank constructed below ground level.

This system will not create any problem and financial burden on those persons who want to construct new houses. In old houses, some changes are required in plumbing works only. Since, there is no problem for enforcing this technology in new houses to be constructed on vacant plots, therefore, Govt. should enforce this technology by making amendments in the Building Bye Laws so that coming generation could be benefited from this system. This system will also lower down the required capacity of water supply and sewerage net works of the Government.

B.N. Sharma

Retd. Senior Town Planner of

Haryana Government