PUNE: The hotel and hospitality industry is feeling the heat of water shortage in Pune this summer. While many of them have taken measures to reduce their consumption and wastage, most of them have to rely on water brought in by tankers to fulfil their daily needs. Those having borewells are using water judiciously.
The #GlassHalfFull campaign, in which restaurants would fill up water glasses only to half capacity so that diners don’t waste water, is still in place in majority of the restaurants. It was started by Pune Restaurants and Hoteliers’ Associations (PRAHA) two summers ago.
The water supplied by the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) is proving insufficient for hoteliers and restaurant owners, therefore they have to order tankers every alternate day. Those with outdoor or rooftop seating are using mist cooling fans, which also consume a sizable quantity of water.
MEASURES TO REDUCE WATER USAGE
Ganesh Pujari, Manager of Vaishali restaurant on Fergusson College Road, said, “We need two tankers every alternate day since there is less supply of water from the civic body. We have replaced big water glasses with small ones, so now there is no problem to serve half glass of water. And around 50 litres of water is needed for the fan water sprinklers every day.”
Ganesh Shetty, President of PRAHA, said, “There are 6,000 restaurants in the city and from these only 10 to 15 per cent need water tankers. By pouring half glass of water almost 800 to 1000 litres are saved, which is then used for other purposes.”
Abbas Ali, Manager of Good Luck restaurant, Fergusson College Road, said, “Despite customers asking us to pour full glass of water we pour only half glass. We refill when required.”
GLASS HALF FULL
The #GlassHalfFull initiative is being praised, but contrary to Shetty’s claim of everyone following it, customers came across some that don’t. “It was heartening when I read a few months ago that many restaurants in Pune have began #GlassHalfFull to save water. However, hardly any restaurants I have visited since have followed this campaign, said Arya Gokhale, a techie residing in Pune. “I always have to ask them to pour just half glass of water, since I am not sure if I would be able to have a whole glass. Yet, many staffers pour water till it reaches the brink of the glass. Though a good campaign, I would say Pune hoteliers and their staff members have failed to implement it.”
HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY AFFECTED
The hospitality industry in Pune is also grappling with shortage of water and has introduced a host of measures to deal with it.
“By installing aerators, opening out Sewage Treatment Plant, and reusing water, we have saved almost 10 tankers’ water per day,” said Ayon Bhattacharya, General Manager of Orchid Hotel, a five-star hotel in Balewadi.
He added, “By installing aerators in taps and showers, we have saved 50 per cent of water. Water treated in STP is reused for gardening, air conditioning and flush tanks.”
DEPENDENT ON TANKERS
Another five star hotel in Kalyani Nagar, Hyatt Pune, has also installed aerators. Appasaheb Bhosale, Chief Engineer of Hyatt Pune, said they need 160 tankers a month. “We have installed drip pipe which releases measurable water for gardening,” he said.
Smaller hotels are equally flustered. Panchratna Hotel, behind Pune Railway station is a 50-room hotel and and still needs to call for tankers 40 times a month. Sharan Shetty, owner, who is also the Vice President of the Poona Hoteliers Association said, “The PMC water supply comes with less force and the water quality is also not good.”
WATER TROUBLES
- Restaurants serving half glass water, to be refilled by half again when requested.
- Calling for tankers as water provided by PMC is not enough.
- Water from borewell used only for maintenance.
- Star hotels using aerators to regulate flow of water through taps and showers.
- Water treated and reused for gardening and in flush tanks.
