Recently, Zerodha Founder Nithin Kamath talked about Bengaluru’s water crisis on the microblogging site X. He pointed out how a single bad rainy season caused a severe water shortage in the city. Kamath mentioned that due to climate change, such crises might happen more often in the future.
He shared some interesting facts: Bengaluru needs about 2632 million litres of fresh water daily but only treats around 1300 million litres from 2000 million litres of wastewater. This treated water is mainly used for farming. Kamath suggested that using wastewater could be a solution to the water crisis.
Insights from Nithin Kamath on Bengaluru’s Water Crisis
Bengaluru needs a whopping 2632 million litres of fresh water every day and generates around 2000 million litres of wastewater. Centralized sewage treatment plants handle about 1300 million litres of this wastewater, which is mainly used for farming.
Nithin Kamath highlighted a concerning fact: approximately 3500 apartments and businesses have decentralized sewage treatment plants (STPs). They waste about 80% of their excess water from STP. This water, though, is of poor quality and suitable only for basic uses like flushing toilets and watering gardens.
It just took one bad rainy season for Bengaluru to face a massive water shortage crisis. Given that extreme weather conditions will only become more common, this probably won’t be the last time we face this crisis.
I learned recently that wastewater could be part of the… pic.twitter.com/dinatQITVk
— Nithin Kamath (@Nithin0dha) April 9, 2024
Kamath proposed a solution: if this excess water from decentralized plants could be treated to high-quality standards, it could cover about 450-500 million litres of the city’s water demand. To showcase practical efforts, Kamath shared a video featuring Boson White Water, a Bengaluru-based startup working on converting STP water into drinkable water. His post attracted over 308,700 views, emphasizing the urgency and interest in solving Bengaluru’s water crisis.
Innovative Solutions for Bengaluru’s Water Woes
Nithin Kamath’s idea got a mixed response. While some supported it, others worried about drinking water that was once sewage. One user suggested improving residential STP discharge as a solution, turning wastewater into a resource for sustainable water security in cities.
People also looked at Singapore’s success in turning wastewater into drinkable water, but some cautioned about potential contaminants like heavy metals even in treated water.
Boston White Water, a startup working on converting STP water to drinkable water, saw a boost in business after Kamath’s mention, getting 300 inquiries in a day.
Kamath’s suggestion highlights the need for creative solutions to urban water problems. By reusing wastewater and improving treatment, cities like Bengaluru can better handle water challenges amid rising demand and climate change. With startups like Boston White Water leading the way, there’s hope for scalable solutions to tackle water scarcity.
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