Big push on cards to recycle water in state

CHENNAI: Recycled water may become the new mantra to resolve water woes arising from rising population and scarcer availability due to the shrinking water table.Governments as well as water firms are working on various technologies and str-ategies to supply recycled water, with a top state government official even suggesting a need for structural modification in water treatment facilities in buildings and flats so that waste-water can be reused.Talking to Express on the sidelines of Municiplika Making Cities Work, Metro Water Managing Director Dr K Gopal said the dual pumping of water in residences as well as hotels and flats is the need of the hour so that potable waste-water can be reused.Interestingly, the state government, which till now focussed on dual treatment of water, is now setting up a tertiary treatment plant in Koyambedu to supply treated water to fulfil the need of industries. Gopal feels before the recycled water can be brought to use in homes, the-re needs to be a decentralised approach which should come from the bottom like resident welfare association.Michael Carter, trade commissioner and consul commercial of the Australian Trade Commission, said that Australian water firms are keen on supplying recycling technologies to the state and talks are on with the state government. Even GE is offering its ZeeWeed Membrane technology for municipal waste-water treatment. Sumit Goel, general manager of KLG Systel, said his firm is in talks with Metro Water to digitise the entire water distribution network so that there is equitable distribution of water.