A ‘water audit’ carried out in public buildings in Kattakada — the Assembly constituency that has garnered accolades for actively reviving its water sources — has revealed shocking patterns about how we tend to use water on a daily basis.
Notable among the findings of the audit, conducted by the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM), is that 20% to 30% of the supplied water was going to waste. The major share of the water — close to 50% — was being used for the purpose of flushing toilets/urinals.
Human consumption, on the other hand, accounted for only between eight and 14%. In one building it was as low as 4.73%.
Audit team
The audit was carried out in six grama panchayat buildings, the Nemom block panchayat building, and the Community Health Centre at Malayinkeezhu. The audit report was released here by Water Resources Minister K. Krishnankutty on Monday. “The audit was undertaken as part of the ‘Vattatha Uravakkayi Jalasamrudhi,’ a campaign aimed at reviving and replenishing water sources in the constituency. It is a model for India as a whole,” Mr. Krishnankutty said.
The audit team has recommended the installation of data-logging water meters to enable continuous monitoring of water use, identification of usage patterns, and detection of leaks. It has also advised that flow restrictors and dual-flush toilets/dry toilets can be installed to restrict water use. Water recycling and rainwater harvesting also are part of the recommendation list.
“Through this audit, our aim was to look at the availability of water, how it is used and what changes would be required,” I.B. Satheesh, MLA, said. The plan was to extend the programme to the whole of Kattakada constituency in a phased manner, Land Use Commissioner A. Nizamudeen said.
Next phase
“In the next phase, we will extend the audit to one ward each in the six panchayats in the constituency and six higher secondary schools. The surveys will be conducted with the help of water clubs in the schools in the constituency,” A.B. Geetha, director, CWRDM, said.
Multiple agencies and organisations, notably the Kerala Shastra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP), have played a key role in the programme. “This is perhaps the first time in the country that such an audit is being planned in a constituency. It is an example of micro-level water budgeting,” said V. Harilal, chairman, environment subjects committee, KSSP.
