Hero of a sustainable lifestyle

Many of us just keep cribbing about the atmosphere around us and do nothing about it. Some like Pritam Kumar Sinha a sustainable lifestyle showing us a path to do so ourselves.

An Ex-infosys, Professor of Practice, Multidisciplinary Research, Bangalore University and Advisor - Centre for Smart Governance, Department of Personal and Administrative Reforms, e-governance, Government of Karnataka, Mr Pritam Kumar Sinha is a master in many areas. He shares his journey with us.

Blueprint for Water Security: A Decade of Lessons with Trials and Errors

For over a decade, I have lived in a rural area bordering the Bannerghatta Forest, on the outskirts of Bangalore City, away from the hustle and bustle of city life. However, despite the proximity to the city’s planned BMRDS zones, the area falls under the jurisdiction of the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Department, which has not provided water supply as mandated for developed residential layouts. This persistent neglect, even after approval conditions by the Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA) under the Urban Development Department (UDD), forced me, and many others here, to confront the question of water security in a highly tangible way.

The Struggle for Safe Drinking Water

The lack of basic water infrastructure meant years of relying on tanker supply through borewell sources, both of which became unreliable in terms of water quality and unsustainable due to over-extraction of groundwater against approval conditions for the formation of layouts. My journey into water conservation began as a necessity for survival, not just an experiment. The recurring problem of sediment buildup in rainwater storage tanks, clogged aerators due to fine dust from the roof, and rapid contamination of collected rainwater highlighted the challenge of maintaining both quantity and quality of water in rural environments near urban fringes.

It was clear that while rainwater harvesting was often discussed as a solution, real-world implementation posed many technical and maintenance challenges. Over the years, trial after trial failed, whether due to unfiltered runoff, unsuitable rainwater filter media, or the high cost of conventional commercial filtration systems.

The Breakthrough: A Low-Cost Filtration Design

Persistence, however, led to innovation. After years of experimenting, I finally developed a three-layer filtration system with five-micron precision, crafted using locally available materials and activated charcoal in a couple of low-cost tanks. This design not only filters out sediments effectively but also prevents aerator clogging and microbial contamination.

The simplicity of the system lies in its adaptability; materials can be replaced or cleaned without specialised tools, keeping costs minimal. The filtered rainwater now fills a 30,000-litre sump, ensuring sufficient storage for couple of months of domestic use.

Excess rainwater overflow is directed into a recharge well, enabling groundwater replenishment instead of runoff wastage. This self-sustaining system closes the loop—maximising usage, minimising waste, and contributing back to the earth’s natural reserves.

Integrated Water Management at the Household Level

The journey towards water security demanded a holistic approach, one that went beyond collecting rainwater to fully utilizing every drop within the household ecosystem. Recognising that wastewater is not waste but a valuable resource, I began systematically reclaiming and reusing water from sources that are typically allowed to drain away.

Washing Machine Wastewater

Washing machine discharge contains detergents, lint, and fine particulates, but is still rich in reusable water for non-potable applications like kitchen garden and lawn. I installed a simple collection pipeline from the washing machine outlet leading into a large storage tank and directly used for garden irrigation. In addition, I migrated from chemical detergent to home-made biodegradable by using soapnut and neem. I have saved nearly 1500–2000 litres per week from being lost in the drain by reusing washing machine greywater, 

Kitchen Sink Water

Kitchen wastewater poses a different challenge; it contains oils, organic matter, and food particles. To address this, I implemented:

• Grease trap units using layered gravel and coconut coir, which naturally adsorb oil residues.

• A small settling tank where heavier particles sink before water is passed through a bio-filter populated with stone gravel, activated charcoal and beneficial microbes to break down organic residues.

The resulting water, though not suitable for drinking, is safely reused for compost tea preparation, plant watering, and limited outdoor cleaning activities. The organic residue trapped in filters is periodically removed and added to bio-gas plant, creating a closed nutrient cycle.

RO System Reject Water

Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems typically waste one litres of reject water for every litre of purified water. Instead of letting this drain away, the rejected water is collected in a dedicated container. While high in dissolved solids, it is still excellent for certain uses:

• Cleaning floors and driveways

• Washing Utensils

• Washing vehicles and outdoor equipment

This reserve also becomes a quick supplementary watering source for hardier garden plants that can tolerate slight salinity.

I have reduced the dependence on external water supply while ensuring that every drop entering the premises is used at least twice before leaving by integrating these streams into a household-level water grid. This closed-loop water security eco-system has three clear benefits:

• Extended water availability even during dry months.

• Reduced strain on drainage lines since less wastewater is discharged.

• Contribution to local groundwater recharge through excess treated water channeled to recharge well.

These measures, implemented with low-cost rainwater filtration and existing household infrastructure, demonstrate that meaningful water security is possible through small but consistent innovations, turning waste streams into a resource and making the home a micro-model for sustainable water stewardship.

A Call for Citizen-Driven Water Security

The experience has underlined one essential truth: true water security and climate action for environmental sustainability begin at the source, in our homes, industries, and communities. While government schemes often promise large-scale change, the most powerful shifts emerge from individual and collective action rooted in responsibility, persistence and continuous innovation.

What is needed today is a citizen-driven movement, where each household adopts context-specific solutions, rainwater harvesting, decentralised treatment, groundwater recharge, and wastewater recycling—without waiting for external grants or bureaucratic support. The tools and knowledge exist; what is required is persistence and passion.

Towards a Self-Reliant Water Future

If every citizen were to secure its water cycle at the source, India’s broader water crisis could be alleviated substantially. Rivers and lakes would rejuvenate naturally when local groundwater levels rise through recharge. Dependence on tanker water, borewell over-extraction, and government schemes would dramatically reduce.

The story from the edge of Bannerghatta Forest in the outskirts of Bangalore is thus not just personal, it is proof of possibility. Through consistent effort, innovation, and commitment, sustainable water security is achievable even in the absence of government support. The spirit of self-water-reliance and environmental stewardship must now ripple outward, to households, communities, and cities, ensuring that water, our most vital resource, never runs dry again.

A wonderful inspiring journey indeed, We all can take a leaf out of his book.

By Jamuna Rangachari