A have a look at the nitty gritty of Bengaluru’s rainwater harvesting

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A have a look at the nitty gritty of Bengaluru’s rainwater harvesting

Sir M Visvesvaraya Rainwater Harvesting Theme Park in Bangalore
| Photograph Credit score: Particular Association

Come summer time and the scorching temperatures carry with it woes galore. Water shortage is one amongst them and Bengaluru was one of many cities that was affected badly this summer time. There may be little doubt that one of many key methods to mitigate water scarcity is by rain water harvesting (RWH).

RWH is actually a easy method by which rain water is collected, filtered and saved for future use. As per the Bangalore Water Provide and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) Act 72, RWH is necessary for all present buildings constructed on a plot of 2400 sq. ft or greater and for any new buildings proposed to be constructed on websites measuring 1200 sq. ft and better within the metropolis. For the uninitiated, BWSSB is a governmental company chargeable for water provide and sewage disposal for the town of Bengaluru.

In a commendable effort to reveal the significance of RWH and educate residents of the town about this idea, BWSSB in collaboration with the Karnataka State Council for Science and Expertise (KSCST), established the Sir M Visvesvaraya Rainwater Harvesting Theme Park in 2022.

Sir M Visvesvaraya Rainwater Harvesting Theme Park in Bangalore

Sir M Visvesvaraya Rainwater Harvesting Theme Park in Bangalore
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association

“The initiative of this museum and theme park was taken up by BWSSB with the target of highlighting the significance of water conservation within the mild of rising water shortage. It’s a treasure trove of knowledge on all issues associated to RWH and a useful information hub for individuals who want to get educated within the implementation of RWH,” says Sunil Basavaraj, Challenge Engineer, KSCST, IISc Campus.

Exhaustive show

The museum constructing which has been tastefully designed within the form of a giant water tank has an earthy, brick façade and is situated in Jayanagar, south Bengaluru. The indoor part is split into the three foremost areas — the central gallery, water gallery and sewerage gallery. With engrossing info boards, sensible fashions and attention-grabbing trivia, the museum has been designed to maintain guests purposefully engaged.

The central gallery throws mild on the quite a few lakes which fashioned the lifeline of the town. It covers the way in which they have been interconnected in addition to the system of Rajakaluve or canals that have been constructed through the British period. This strong system prevented flooding within the yesteryears. It additionally showcases how these historical passageways of water in addition to wetlands have now been closed by senseless urbanisation and its opposed impact on temperatures and water availability.

Sir M Visvesvaraya Rainwater Harvesting Theme Park in Bangalore

Sir M Visvesvaraya Rainwater Harvesting Theme Park in Bangalore
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association

“The museum outlines a number of steps residents can take to protect the town’s lakes and enhance floor water ranges. This may be executed by RWH, avoiding the digging deep borewells, utilizing bio-fertilisers and taking part in anti-encroachment in addition to cleansing drives,” says Sunil.

The water gallery explains the fundamentals of recharge by means of borewells and demonstrates how water percolates by means of completely different layers of the earth. It homes a complete RWH home mannequin and likewise educates guests about physique water and the significance of water within the human physique.

“Guests may also test their water content material on the size which reveals each physique weight and water content material. The gallery additionally has info on how residents can set up aerators and restrictors on faucets, bathe heads and bathroom weapons. This straightforward answer can save substantial quantities of water,” provides Sunil.

Do you know Bengaluru’s authentic sewerage system was in-built 1922 and served solely the center of the town? Or that as a lot as 53% of untreated sewage is let into lakes? The sewerage gallery explains all this and extra. “This gallery has reveals that reveal the water utilization of various home equipment in a house and the way liquid waste is of two varieties — gray and black water.”

Sir M Visvesvaraya Rainwater Harvesting Theme Park in Bangalore

Sir M Visvesvaraya Rainwater Harvesting Theme Park in Bangalore
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association

“The previous is generated from showers, washing machines and many others and will be reused for bathroom flushing, automotive washing and many others. The latter is waste water that comes out of kitchen sinks and the bathroom which will be reused for functions similar to gardening after tertiary remedy,” explains Sunil.

Fashions galore

There are as many as 26 forms of rain harvesting fashions put in within the gardens of the theme park which is lush inexperienced with completely different sorts of vegetation, together with a number of medicinal species.

“From fashions for flat and sloping roofs in addition to completely different sorts of pipes for these roofs, there are numerous fashions on show, together with ones produced from bamboo, fibre, PVC and many others. We even have completely different sorts of filters similar to wall mounted ones that are appropriate for smaller roofs,” he says.

Reservoir fashions similar to cement tanks and earthen pots are additionally on show so potential customers can simply gauge the suitability of the fashions for his or her houses. The pervious (porous) paver blocks laid all alongside the grass joints and strolling paths present the right instance of how the underground water desk will be replenished.

Sir M Visvesvaraya Rainwater Harvesting Theme Park in Bangalore

Sir M Visvesvaraya Rainwater Harvesting Theme Park in Bangalore
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association

The museum additionally has an auditorium with a seating capability of 72 with state-of-the-art amenities for coaching applications, discussions and conferences.

Sir M Visvesvaraya Rainwater Harvesting Theme Park is at eighth Principal Street, fortieth Cross Rd, fifth Block,Jayanagar. It’s open from 10a.m to five.30 pm on all days besides Sundays and authorities holidays. Entry is free.