Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) is preparing to launch green water tanker services from November 1. The services will supply water treated at sewage treatment plants (STPs) for construction, industries, parks, greenery and other works that do not need drinking water. The Board has taken up the special action plan on the directions of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to conserve groundwater and ease pressure on drinking water sources.
HMWSSB Managing Director K. Ashok Reddy reviewed the measures with senior officials on Friday in view of the upcoming El Niño conditions. The review focused on increasing the use of alternative water sources. He directed officials to speed up arrangements for infrastructure, tanker registration, filling stations and online booking systems. He also told them to complete the technical and operational arrangements within the deadline for the November 1 launch.
The MD asked officials to assess area-wise demand for treated water from construction, industries, commercial complexes, government institutions and gated communities. Based on this demand, they will identify nearby government and private STPs and set up green water filling stations. He also directed them to provide filling points, platforms, pumping facilities, flow meters and other infrastructure.
To ensure transparency, every tanker must carry special branding and a GPS device. Officials will monitor tanker movements, supply timings and delivery details in real time. Each filling station will have e-POS machines to digitally record the quantity of water filled along with booking and supply details.
Mobile app to track green water tanker bookings and deliveries
Ashok Reddy asked officials to develop a dedicated mobile app that brings all services onto a single platform. These include tanker and consumer registration, online booking, tanker allocation, GPS tracking, digital payments and delivery confirmation. Consumers with their own tankers will be able to use the services under prescribed norms. Those without tankers will receive treated water through tankers registered with HMWSSB.
The MD said treated water should replace drinking water and groundwater for construction, plantation, park maintenance, road cleaning and dust control. He directed officials to expand green water use in coordination with government and private institutions, builders, developers and industrial associations. He also ordered continuous quality testing of treated water at the filling stations. The water must meet prescribed standards and be used only for non-potable purposes.
Ashok Reddy called for special campaigns to create awareness about the services among construction firms, industries and the public. He directed officials to publicise the booking process, filling station details and the benefits of treated water through print, electronic and digital media and social media.
Executive Directors of the three regions Pankaja, Samrat Ashok and Santosh, Technical Director Prabhu, and Directors Narayana, Vasa Satyanarayana and Kiran Kumar attended the meeting. Chief General Managers (CGMs) of various departments and other senior officials also took part.