PPCB asks service stations to install water meters

To keep a check on the misuse of water during washing of vehicles, Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) today asked the service stations to install water-meters which will throw light on withdrawal of underground water.

The Board also asked for suggestions and objections under water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, from the stake holders to stop misuse of fresh water for washing of vehicles.

PPCB Chairman K S Pannu said a large number of service stations in the state use 'plunger pumps' for washing vehicles and use 150-200 litre of fresh water per vehicle.

"Whereas if pressure pumps, which are readily available in the market, are used, the consumption of water per vehicles comes down to 50 litres only," he said.

A study regarding minimization of water consumption in the service stations was carried out by the Board in Ludhiana, where around 1,700 kilolitres per day of fresh water was used by service stations for washing vehicles, he said in a release here.

"If these service stations switch over to high pressure pumps, the water consumption will be reduced to 360 kilolitres/day, thereby saving around 1,340 kilolitres of fresh water per day," the PPCB chairman said.

He said that another study was conducted in Patiala and it was observed if service stations use treated water for the first washing, the fresh water consumption can be reduced by up to 50 per cent.

The PPCB chairman said each service station will have to install water meter to check the ground water withdrawal and they also have to maintain the daily record of vehicles washed at their premises.

"All service stations using more than a kilolitre water per day will have to provide primary water treatment and those with the usage of more than two kilolitre of water per day will install complete effluent treatment plant and make arrangement for using the treated water for first washing of the vehicle, " he said.

These service stations will have to ensure that the treated water is either disposed of in a sewer or used for plantation purposes only, he added.