`Every drop counts’: HMWSSB disconnects tap connection of Banjara Hills household for wasting water

Hyderabad: Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) disconnected the tap connection of a household in Banjara Hills after the owner was found wasting potable water for the second time.

The action comes days after the Board’s Managing Director, Ashok Reddy, warned of stringent measures against people wasting drinking water.

Previous violation and penalty

According to officials, the incident pertains to a residence located on Road No. 12 in Banjara Hills. On September 3 last year, a drinking water sump at the house overflowed, resulting in potable water flowing on the road for nearly one kilometer.

Following a field inspection by the local O&M Division manager, the house owner was served a notice and fined Rs 10,000 for wasting drinking water, as per the Managing Director’s instructions. At that time, officials had clearly warned that the tap connection would be disconnected if such negligence was repeated.

MD spots fresh leakage

On Wednesday, while travelling along the main road in Banjara Hills, HMWSSB Managing Director Ashok Reddy noticed fresh water leakage near Road No. 12.

Upon verification, officials confirmed that the leakage originated from the same house that had been penalized earlier for water wastage.

Angered by the repeated violation, the MD immediately ordered the disconnection of the household’s tap connection. Acting on his directions, water board officials removed the connection on the spot.

Strong warning to consumers

The Managing Director appealed to citizens not to misuse or waste the drinking water supplied by HMWSSB, stressing that potable water should not be diverted for other purposes.

He cautioned that anyone found wasting valuable drinking water would face strict action, including penalties and disconnection of supply, reiterating the Board’s zero-tolerance approach towards water wastage.