By providing separate water meter to each flat at apartments, wastage of water which is being now observed can be avoided and WATER can very well be saved at each minute each day!
PRESENT SITUATION.
In all most all apartments, separate electric energy consumption meter is provided to each flat. Electric bill is being paid by the occupants according to the level of consumption with a min.clause.
But, in almost all apartments, there are no separate water meters. What ever is the total water bill is divided among the number of flats, irrespective of quantity of water used [many a times water is carelessly wasted].
Some examples are as under.
- A flat with 6-7 occupants & a flat with only husband & wife [both may be working in some cases]
- A flat where a lot of guests do come and go.
- A flat used for non residential purposes.
- Family functions/religious functions arranged at a flat every now and then.
- A flat maintained by a maid servant[servants don’t care to save water as they are to finish work quickly and go to other house to complete work] & a self maintained flat[ by the occupants by themselves.]
- A flat which is vacant for 15 days or a month during holidays.
Leaking taps are not repaired immediately [even for months together], as the loss of water is not a direct loss to the occupant.
In all these cases, there is always a heart burning feeling by those who consume less but pay for more.
To get [the so called] justice for the money now being paid un necessarily, some occupants [even the educated!!] have even gone to an extent of keeping the tap open, when they go out! It is not an exaggeration!! It is a fact.
WE CAN SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
The problem of consumption of and wastage of more water is identified. But, it is not difficult to find a solution to this problem. It is very simple, 100% result instant oriented, and cost effective.
BY PROVIDING WATER METER TO EACH FLAT IN THE APARTEMENT, THIS PROBLEM CAN VERY WELL BE AND CERTAINLY BE ADDRESSED!!
When each flat is provided with separate water meter and charge is made on the basis of water consumed [of course with a minimum charge clause for maintaining the common area and lawn/garden etc], each flat owner will be reasonably cautious of using the water and may avoid wasting water. Such of those who don’t care to save water will have to pay out more of money. Thus, others need not be the scapegoat for the bad practice of the careless people. Where there is accountability, certainly there will be an attitude to save.
HERE IS A SUCCESS STORY –WHERE THIS CONCEPT IS ALREADY IN PRACTICED.
This plan of action had already been implemented by a group of apartments in Baroda and Mumbai. Maintenance society was really proud to record the SUCCESS story of implementation of separate water meter for each flat in their apartments.
They could find the reduction in the use [even the misuse] of water by about 40%!!
They could save a lot of electricity bill also as the quantity of water lifted to the overhead tank was also reduced by 40%.
Responsible occupants were happy and the careless occupants had to become careful at least to some extent or else, they were made to spend more!
This is A REAL and PRACTICAL SOLUTION TO THE PRESENT WATER PROBLEM faced AT THE URBAN AREAS.
Water is being pulled out of deep bore wells and the water table is going down day by day at an alarming speed. Implementation of this suggestion at all apartments [if possible, made compulsory by the Govt.] Can help in solving the water problem to a very large scale in the urban areas. Thus a great quantity of WATER and a large quantity of electricity can be saved.
WRITTEN BY; RAMESH B.M., CHIEF MANAGER,
KARNATAKA BANK, REGIONAL OFFICE, CHENNAI.