Bengaluru's water crisis: Anand Mahindra advocates AC water harvesting amid water shortage

livemint.com:

Anand Mahindra, the Chairman of Mahindra Group, has shared a video on Twitter showcasing an innovative solution for harvesting water from air conditioners. The video, which has garnered significant attention, highlights a simple yet effective method of collecting water daily from AC units. Mahindra took to Twitter to share the video, emphasizing the importance of adopting such practices across India.

He tweeted, "This needs to become standard equipment throughout India wherever people use A/Cs. Water is Wealth. It needs to be stored safely…" The video showcases a setup where a pipe is attached to the AC unit's condensate drain, directing the water into a collection tank.

This ingenious method capitalizes on the fact that air conditioners generate significant amounts of condensate water, which is typically drained and wasted. Bengaluru, often referred to as the "Silicon Valley of India," has been grappling with severe water shortages in recent years. The city's rapidly growing population and urbanization have placed immense strain on its limited water resources, prompting authorities and residents to explore sustainable solutions.

Mahindra's endorsement of AC water harvesting has struck a chord with many, who recognize the urgent need to conserve and utilize every available water source. With air conditioners being widely used in households and commercial establishments, this simple technique could potentially save millions of liters of water annually. Meanwhile, despite repeated instances of residents facing acute water shortages in various parts of Bengaluru, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has denied the existence of any water crisis in the city.