Treated Water Use Mandatory for Construction in Pune

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) issued a circular making it mandatory for all construction sites to use the treated water for construction activity in the city instead of using underground or potable water. The builders in the city have welcomed the usage of treated water generated through sewage treatment plants, however, they have pointed out some practical issues. Water department head Aniruddha Pawaskar said, “In any new scheme, the initial phases have some practical issues. While making it mandatory, the PMCs approach would be positive and the civic body will address the practical problems faced by builders.” Pawaskar added, “Currently the builders are hiring borewell water which is paid for by them. We are giving them treated water free of cost, but they are not ready to pay transport charges. The civic body has five to six times more capacity of treated water than the demand for construction activity. In future, when this becomes a routine, the PMC will ask tanker owners to give different colours to treated water tankers. Pune would be first city in the country which would be using treated water for construction activity.”