MUMBAI: As water supplies in Mumbai become tighter, developers and industrial users are adjusting their operations, preparing for increased costs, a greater reliance on tankers, and potential project delays, while also accelerating investments in water recycling and reuse.
The BMC has suspended water supply to construction sites and implemented a 20% reduction in supply to industrial and commercial entities due to declining reservoir levels and a delayed monsoon. These restrictions are on top of a previously established 10% cut from the previous month.
Amit Jain, Chairman and Managing Director of Arkade Developers, mentioned that these measures would drive developers towards using water tankers, which would escalate costs and complicate logistics at sites. However, he noted that project execution would not face significant disruptions as long as alternative sources are available.
Ashish Raheja, Managing Director of Raheja Universal, remarked that these restrictions would necessitate changes in operational planning, with short-term cuts likely leading to project delays. He observed that the real estate sector is increasingly adopting sewage treatment plants, water recycling systems, and rainwater harvesting to lessen reliance on municipal supplies.
Afcons Infrastructure reported that it is implementing wastewater treatment systems and prioritizing recycled water at various sites. They pointed to their Bengaluru underground metro project, which utilized nearly 300 million liters of treated water from Lalbagh’s tertiary treatment plant to power slurry tunnel boring machines during a severe summer water shortage.
Regarding its involvement with the Atal Setu bridge in Mumbai, Afcons noted that the recent restrictions will have only a “marginal” impact since their projects depend on BMC supply solely for drinking water.
“Water management must now be seen as a critical sustainability initiative,” Jain asserted, emphasizing the need for developers to integrate recycling systems and alternative water sources into core project planning rather than treating them as backup options.
Manish Jain, Managing Director of Enviro Infra Engineers, indicated that these restrictions underscore the increasing stress on urban water systems and highlight the necessity to reduce reliance on freshwater. He stated, “The temporary suspension of water supply to construction sites by the BMC now, as experienced previously by other corporations, reveals the significant potential for repurposing treated water from wastewater treatment plants.”
He concluded that a long-term solution involves establishing a circular water economy where treated wastewater is allocated for construction and other non-potable uses, thereby alleviating pressure on municipal supplies and enhancing resilience to ongoing shortages.
