Under the MoU, Nirvana will use Fresco’s surplus treated sewage water for horticulture and maintenance work. A water canal is being constructed between the two societies.
To solve each other’s water woes, two residential societies in Gurugram – Nirvana Country and Fresco Apartments – have come up with a unique solution.
The residents’ welfare associations (RWAs) of Nirvana Country and Fresco have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), under which the former will use the latter’s surplus treated sewage water for horticulture and maintenance work.
Starting April, the RWA of Nirvana Country will be able to use 3-4 lakh litres of treated water from Fresco Apartments.
The rules state that extraction of groundwater for horticulture and maintenance work is prohibited and only treated water can be used for such purposes. Nirvana Country, being a low-rise housing complex, does not have a sewage treatment plant (STP) and disposes sewage directly into the master sewer of Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA).
On the other hand, Fresco has an STP which produces four times the treated water it uses. As a result, the surplus water is dumped outside the society posing an environmental risk. The residents say that the treated water enters the basement of Fresco and was damaging the building.
Speaking to City Spidey, Nilesh Tandon, president of RWA of Fresco Apartments, said, “We produce about 6 lacs litres of treated water daily and in the absence of a sewer line, this water is released in open areas. It was a cause of worry for us as this sewage water gets into groundwater and pollutes it and if released in open spaces becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes. We were also facing seepage and leakage issues because of it.”
The agreement has a potential to save up to four lakh litres of water.
Under the agreement, Fresco will extend a water canal to a fixed access point in Nirvana. Nirvana will have to construct an extensive pipeline network reaching its five plotted colonies. The ground work for constructing canal outside Fresco has already started.
“It is a win-win situation for both the societies and also sets an example for others to solves such issues with mutual cooperation. The pipeline work has already started and the whole set up will start working by the end of this month,” added Tandon.
Sujan Deb, executive member, RWA, said that dumping of treated water had become a headache for the society. “We were spending a lot of money in dumping this water. Hopefully, that will stop now once the canal is ready. We needed an exit for the treated water and Nirvana needed water for their utility works. The agreement solves both our problems.”
