My first Magazine April 2018 | Page 17

Towards Water Positivity W ater is the most abundant resource on our planet. However, less than 1% of the world’s fresh water is readily accessible. The whole world is dependent on clean, reliable water supplies that are important for all living beings, industries, agriculture and energy production. Every community and ecosystem on Earth depends on water for sanitation, hygiene and daily survival. It is important to note that in just 40 years the world‘s population has doubled and the demand for water has quadrupled. By 2025, an estimated 1.8 billion people will be living without water. Rajahmundry LPG Plant has been setting examples with activities focused on water conservation. Rajahmundry LPG Plant utilises groundwater through bore wells for internal consumption. Under the support and guidance of Sustainability Division – Corporate HSE Department, the plant maintained a strict vigil on water consumption by metering the 26 points of withdrawal, distribution, treatment and consumption. The plant has also implemented water conservation measures such as aerators in taps, flow controllers, drip irrigation, implementing phytoremediation (a natural method) of 10 KLD capacity for recycling the sewage water for gardening, developed Sustainability Division under Corporate HSE Department is driving efforts in helping our locations become water positive. This involves: additional rain water harvesting pits for capturing the available runoff and diverting it to underground aquifers. As a part of the conservation campaign, the plant also carried out extensive sensitisation of all stakeholders such as employees, contract workmen, packed and bulk truck crew. As a result, Rajahmundry LPG Plant has been certified as ‘Water Positive by 17,100 KL’. This means that the plant gives back a significant amount of water to the underground aquifers more than what it withdraws from them. Abhijeet Pawar Manager-Sustainability Corporate HSE Strict measuring and monitoring of water consumption and creating water balance Reduction in water wastage Ensuring maximum reuse and recycling of water Enhancing ground water recharge ISSUE 1 2018 17