Thursday, July 13, 2006
When water meters lose pace...
If your neighbour consumes water by gallons, will you relish paying for it? The residents of this Tarnaka apartment did not. So, they came up with a new method. The bill amount crashed, water wastage drifted to zero. M. SRINIVAS finds out how.
Here is some good news for those fed up with the imbalance in the quantum of water consumption and the water bill and other maintenance charges in an apartment.
A simple device developed by Gharonda Seshasai Apartment Residents at Vijayapuri in Tarnaka, Hyderabad has brought about an amazing change in their billing. With the launch of `Individual Water Meters Project,' water shortage is history in these flats. Wastage too is minimised. And yes, the flat owners are now getting round-the-clock water supply, nothing short of a miracle!
The owners earlier used to shell out equal amounts irrespective of the volume of water consumed. This, despite using water judiciously compared to neighbours whose consumption was more. The situation only worsens during the summer with residents having to pay additional charges for summoning a water tanker from the nearest Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) office.
Fed up with these problems, the flat owners led by their coordinator R. Rama Krishna developed the unique "Individual Water Meters Project." Under the project, individual pipes with meters connecting overhead tank to kitchen and bathrooms of each flat were fixed. Drinking water from the sump on ground floor will be directly pumped into the overhead tank from where it would be supplied to flats through pipes.
How it runs
The meter will start recording once a family member opens a tap. "This new method helps flat owners pay charges based on actual consumption of water. It also resulted in minimising wastage," Mr. Ramakrishna who mooted the concept said.
Earlier each flat used to get 750 litres of water during one-and-a-hour supply amounting to 36,000 litres for 56 flats in the apartment. "We are able to ensure 24-hour water supply to all the flats with the installation of separate water meters," Mr. Ramakrishna who has been residing in the apartment for seven years said. Moreover, the residents are scared to use water imprudently!
Stop at your convenience
Water supply can be stopped if residents are away from the house. "We have the facility of disconnecting water supply if anyone failed to pay the arrears," he explained. Some of the families, mostly young couples, used to pay more than Rs. 400 towards water charges, excluding maintenance charges. But they are now paying barely Rs. 66 depending upon the actual consumption of water.
"I never expected that my idea would bring such a significant metamorphosis in the colony," Mr. Ramakrishna said, adding that response was overwhelming and other residents in the Colony were planning to adopt the method in their apartments.
Mallika Ali
"We used to pay hefty charges even after using water judiciously. The new device has put an end to all our long-standing water woes in the apartment. It is also helping us reduce wastage of water. Now there is 24-hour supply."
Laxmi
"With insufficient water supply, we used to worry a lot when relatives visit our house during vacations. On certain occasions, when we had to go out, main door keys are given to our neighbours or domestic helps so that they could store water in huge utensils. Now, there is no need for that."
Rajeswari
"Though we faced some hurdles in taking-up the project, it has been implemented successfully. Some of the flat owners who earlier planned to sell their flat have deferred their idea after round-the-clock water supply is ensured in the apartment."
Here is some good news for those fed up with the imbalance in the quantum of water consumption and the water bill and other maintenance charges in an apartment.
A simple device developed by Gharonda Seshasai Apartment Residents at Vijayapuri in Tarnaka, Hyderabad has brought about an amazing change in their billing. With the launch of `Individual Water Meters Project,' water shortage is history in these flats. Wastage too is minimised. And yes, the flat owners are now getting round-the-clock water supply, nothing short of a miracle!
The owners earlier used to shell out equal amounts irrespective of the volume of water consumed. This, despite using water judiciously compared to neighbours whose consumption was more. The situation only worsens during the summer with residents having to pay additional charges for summoning a water tanker from the nearest Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) office.
Fed up with these problems, the flat owners led by their coordinator R. Rama Krishna developed the unique "Individual Water Meters Project." Under the project, individual pipes with meters connecting overhead tank to kitchen and bathrooms of each flat were fixed. Drinking water from the sump on ground floor will be directly pumped into the overhead tank from where it would be supplied to flats through pipes.
How it runs
The meter will start recording once a family member opens a tap. "This new method helps flat owners pay charges based on actual consumption of water. It also resulted in minimising wastage," Mr. Ramakrishna who mooted the concept said.
Earlier each flat used to get 750 litres of water during one-and-a-hour supply amounting to 36,000 litres for 56 flats in the apartment. "We are able to ensure 24-hour water supply to all the flats with the installation of separate water meters," Mr. Ramakrishna who has been residing in the apartment for seven years said. Moreover, the residents are scared to use water imprudently!
Stop at your convenience
Water supply can be stopped if residents are away from the house. "We have the facility of disconnecting water supply if anyone failed to pay the arrears," he explained. Some of the families, mostly young couples, used to pay more than Rs. 400 towards water charges, excluding maintenance charges. But they are now paying barely Rs. 66 depending upon the actual consumption of water.
"I never expected that my idea would bring such a significant metamorphosis in the colony," Mr. Ramakrishna said, adding that response was overwhelming and other residents in the Colony were planning to adopt the method in their apartments.
Mallika Ali
"We used to pay hefty charges even after using water judiciously. The new device has put an end to all our long-standing water woes in the apartment. It is also helping us reduce wastage of water. Now there is 24-hour supply."
Laxmi
"With insufficient water supply, we used to worry a lot when relatives visit our house during vacations. On certain occasions, when we had to go out, main door keys are given to our neighbours or domestic helps so that they could store water in huge utensils. Now, there is no need for that."
Rajeswari
"Though we faced some hurdles in taking-up the project, it has been implemented successfully. Some of the flat owners who earlier planned to sell their flat have deferred their idea after round-the-clock water supply is ensured in the apartment."
# posted by mashup @ 12:36 AM 
