Tap aerator can cut water use by 10%

Pune: Only 10% of Pune residents could have saved the Indian Premier League from being shunted out of Maharashtra. They could also give at least 30 lakh litres of water every day to the parched Marathwada region, which is reeling under one of its worst water crises ever.
Wonder how? Well, if only five lakh people change a minor plumbing component at home, the municipal corporation will end up saving a whopping 60 lakh litres of water per day.For the record, Wankhede stadium in Mumbai requires 60,000 litres every day to maintain the cricket ground.
This is not magic, but pure engineering. The Indian Plumbing Association has started a novel 'I save water' campaign in Pune with a target to fit pressure compensating aerators on taps at public places, such as the airport and railway station, and save five crore litres of water till March next year.
Pravin Bora, the association's president, says, "This aerator is not an invention, but a discovery. The concept is as old as the plumbing methodology. But nobody spared a thought to understand that by simply replacing a minor component of the wash basin tap one can save about six litres of water per minute. This is phenomenal saving by any standard."
Does it affect the flow of water? "It does. That's why we are promoting its use only for wash basins, where the water requirement is very less, but we end up wasting a lot of it in cleaning hands and brushing teeth. Fitting the aerator will not compromise your hygiene in the remotest way. The only thing that it will impact is your water bill, which should come down by a good 10%," says Bora.
The Indian Plumbing Association, which is a non-governmental organization, has given 90 aerators to the Lohegaon airport. This will help the Airport Authority of India (AAI) save at least 10,000 litres of water per day. AAI director Ajay Kumar said, "The financial gains are huge. But we don't look at water in terms of money. Water is an essential natural commodity and all of us need to make every possible effort to protect it."
The association is also conducting a feasibility study at the Pune railway station. It has helped Phoenix Marketcity mall save over two crore litres and City Pride Kothrud multiplex 10 lakh litres of water in a year .
"We want this movement to spread. Housing societies can come forward and get it installed in every flat. The cost of the component is one fourth of the best tap you get in the market. I don't think it is a big price considering the water shortage we are facing today. We will continue to install the aerators at public places as long as we get the required funding. I appeal more people to contribute to this noble task for their own benefit," Bora said.
Shailaja Deshpande, who is fighting for the cause to save the Mutha river, said, "About 70% of river pollution is caused by domestic waste. Such a device will definitely cut down sewage, thus helping rejuvenate rivers."