Use of drinking water for lawn irrigation straining Kashmir’s water supply
Mudassir Kuloo
Srinagar, July 8: The extensive use of treated drinking water for irrigating lawns and gardens has emerged as a major contributor to water shortages in Kashmir, prompting the Jammu and Kashmir government to explore a separate water supply network for irrigation and domestic consumption.
Across Kashmir, the same potable water supplied to households is also being used to water private lawns, public parks and gardens. Officials believe this practice is placing enormous pressure on already limited water resources, particularly during the peak summer months when demand for drinking water increases significantly.
According to official estimates, nearly 40 per cent of Srinagar’s treated water supply is consumed for irrigating lawns and gardens. As a result, several localities experience shortages of drinking water despite the government investing heavily in water supply infrastructure.
Commissioner Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department (HUDD), Mandeep Kaur said the government has limited water resources and therefore needs to manage them more efficiently.
“We have limited resources and need to use them judiciously. Our objective is to create separate water supply systems—one for drinking and domestic use and another for irrigation purposes,” she said.
Kaur said the government is examining models adopted by several cities outside Kashmir, where dual water supply systems have been introduced. Under such systems, potable water is reserved exclusively for drinking and household use, while non-potable or recycled water is supplied for irrigating parks, gardens and landscaped areas.
The government is also focusing on the reuse of treated wastewater generated by Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs). Instead of allowing treated wastewater to flow into rivers and streams, it can be channelled for irrigating public parks, gardens, road medians and other green spaces.
Experts say wastewater recycling has become an important component of urban water management in many parts of the country and helps reduce dependence on freshwater sources without compromising environmental standards. With Kashmir witnessing increasing pressure on its water resources due to rapid urbanisation, changing weather patterns and rising demand, officials believe separating potable water from irrigation supply could significantly improve water availability for households while promoting sustainable use of available resources.
