Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) across Hyderabad and Cyberabad have proposed a seven-point water conservation plan as rising demand, declining groundwater levels and uncertain rainfall intensify concerns over water availability. The initiative, called ‘Every drop Counts’, seeks to make responsible water use a collective priority in residential communities across the city.
The plan was outlined by UFERWAS president E Ramana, who also heads the Tellapur Neighborhood Association (TeNA). He said every RWA should adopt a water conservation action plan beginning with the measurement of consumption. The proposal places responsibility on residential communities to identify avoidable losses and regulate non-essential use.
The recommended measures include regular inspections of pipelines, storage tanks, float valves and plumbing systems. RWAs have been advised to repair leaks immediately and prevent the overflow of sumps and overhead tanks. These steps are intended to reduce wastage within apartment complexes and neighbourhoods before water reaches individual households.
The plan also calls for the safe reuse of adequately treated wastewater for gardening, toilet flushing and other suitable non-potable purposes. Separating potable water use from activities that do not require drinking-quality water is among the measures proposed for reducing demand within residential communities.
RWAs have further been asked to clean rooftop filters and recharge pits before the monsoon and maintain rainwater-harvesting systems properly. According to the recommendations, these systems can help capture rainfall and support groundwater recharge. The proposal comes against a backdrop of declining groundwater levels and uncertainty over rainfall, both of which affect the reliability of local water sources.
The remaining measures focus on household and community behaviour. RWAs have been advised to restrict excessive lawn watering and prohibit the use of potable water for washing driveways and parking areas. Communities are also encouraged to regulate non-essential consumption, including vehicle washing and decorative water features.
Residents have been urged to take shorter showers, operate washing machines only with full loads and avoid leaving taps running. The recommendations extend the conservation effort beyond infrastructure maintenance to daily consumption practices in homes and shared residential spaces.
The proposed plan does not announce a new municipal supply project or a citywide regulatory order. Instead, it sets out actions that RWAs can adopt within their own communities, including monitoring consumption, maintaining water systems, reusing treated wastewater and preparing rainwater-harvesting infrastructure ahead of the monsoon. The initiative’s implementation will therefore depend on individual associations and residents adopting the measures outlined by the RWA representatives.
