Assessing Water Charges for Apartment Complex - Implementation : Help Required, Hyderabad

Dear All
The issue in respect of the above cited subject as requested by the Apartment owners is as follows:
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Recently I bought a 2BHK flat in KPHB, Hyderabad. The Builder has constructed two huge sumps to store manjeera(dam) water and a huge sump for bore water. Now as this is summer and that too it is hyderabad, most of the place is in shortage of bore water and even municipality is not releasing the dam water for more than 2 hrs which will hardly fill only half of the one huge sump.
Hence we are ordering tankers of water. The builder has set up 20 tanks for 20 flats of 1000 liters each. But the logic behind is that if the pipe is kept in one tank and if it filled up, the water will go in to the next one and so on. Like this every alternate day the water is being filled in 20 storage tanks. The problem is that every municipality water tank(capacity of 14000litres) costs Rs. 800 and as we are ordering alternate days, it is costing Rs. 700 extra burden for each flat besides the normal maintenance of Rs 700/- .
Some tenants are not willing to pay this as they are saying we don't use much water.
I got the idea of water meter. I think by making the 20 individual tanks to one common tank and keeping water metre for every flat will be a better idea. But we don't know how much to charge for a unit. Could you please help me in this regard?
Karteek Challa
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The suggestions made in this direction includes as:
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Dear karteek Challa

Water crises has become common issue for all in general and particularly the one living in the concrete jungles like Hyderabad. I am familiar with such issues of Hyderabad. I have read the info and issues of your apartment.

It broadly groups into two as:

1. Non co-operation from the members for sharing the common services & benefits and

2. Fixing water meters and cost.

Though the first one is common, still it is possible to get the cooperation from other members by putting the reality before them and asking them to think for solutions with accountability and responsibility. If it works, it is fine other wise needs guidance from common friend.

Coming to the second point, fix the meters (by individuals itself or share the cost) and record the reading (units) on monthly basis.

The cost per individuals = no, of units used x total expenditure uncured / total number of units.

But the big question is how long you people depend upon the water supply from external sources?????????

It is the fact that municipality at any time may not be in a position to supply required quantity of water??????

Then, what are you going to do and how long this dependency will continue??????

Do you expect that the external water resources will remain to support you on long term basis?????

Discus these points among your members and do brain storming???

Still wondering for the solutions??????

The solution is in your hands only???

Do you believe this, ha,....ha, ha.....????

It is know as RAIN WATER HARVESTING.

Awareness on RWH is going on by way of news papers, tv channels, films, writings,. paints .............etc.You might have seen all these.

Understanding the importance of water, recently we all celebrated the World Water Day 2011 by way of trainings, seminars, workshops, awareness, rallies, posters, mails, presentations and so on......

RWH is very simple if you understood the issue and importance of water.

In simple terms RWH emphasis on:

# Leave empty space (with out cementing) - this allows the rainwater to infiltrate into the sub-surface. This supports for your greenery and to improve the groundwater both in general and your own borewells.

# Collete the rainwater from the roof of your apartments - you can store this on the surface for supplementing your regular water supply and inject it into the sub-surface to enhance the groundwater both in general and your own borewells.

You along with your members may be knowing all these simple measures. It needs concern and implementation with commitment.

Hope now you got relief and feeling confident to solve your own water crises and better relationships among the inmates.

Hope by next or next year your dependency on external water supply will be minimized drastically.

I will be happy to share more on this if required.

All the best

N Lakshmi Narayana, 9392445973 Hyderabad
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Looking forward for better cooperation and relationships