The recycled water ensures less wastage while providing better aesthetics say experts.
The fountain at K R Circle uses recycled water from the Cubbon Park Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). Ashwak Bagi, assistant executive engineer at BBMP said that they were still calculating the amount of water used. He said, “it uses water from the Cubbon Park STP and recycles it.” The fountain is operational from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. to save electricity said Bagi.
“The fountain was set up to reduce air pollution and increase beauty in the area,” he said, adding that the fountain was operational during peak traffic hours.
Experts are of the opinion that while fountains improve the aesthetics of a city, they don’t always use too much water. “Fountains do not necessarily use excessive amounts of water. Objections to fountains most often arise because they offer a public display of water use, whether splashing about or slowly dripping. In a water-scarce state this is considered in poor taste…by providing people the opportunity to experience the fascination and pleasure of water, fountains encourage them to value water for its beauty and the physical and psychological satisfaction it offers,” according to a research paper by Joe Gelt of Water Resources Research Center (WRRC).
Environmentalists agree with the idea. “As the temperature increases during the day time, the particulate matter also increases,” Yellappa Reddy, the chairman of Bangalore Environment Trust said. He said that water fountains, in some areas can benefit only 0.01 per cent of the population around the locality but “it’s not enough.” Darshan, personal assistant to the commissioner at the Revenue office behind the KR Circle however sees a remarkable difference. He said, “It has definitely made a difference. It feels calmer.”
However, Reddy calls it a “peripheral activity” as it uses a lot of resources like water and electricity alongsidetime and money spent on building it. He said that the fountains will only reduce air pollution when the water used is pathogen free.
According to him, vehicle emissions, adulterated fuel, garbage and litter burning which release cancerous gases, overloading vehicles and construction are major contributors of air pollution .
He said that these causes can be prevented by punishing people for burning garbage, providing leaf shredders at every ward so that theycan be converted into manure.
Pavan. N, Assistant Executive Engineer at Cubbon Park STP said that they have not provided a connection to the K.R. circle fountains but provided them with water from tankers.
