Think about bathing with simply 3 mugs of water or having over 350 potted vegetation but not utilizing a single drop of recent water to water these? 

These are some excessive water conservation measures that Odette Katrak, a Bengaluru resident, has been adopting for 15 years, because of her distinctive Ecowaternomics framework, which she hopes will encourage many to save lots of big quantities of water too.

“It took us a extreme water disaster in Bengaluru to understand we have to save water,” she remarks. With hundreds of public borewells operating dry, strict restrictions and penalties being imposed on the wastage of water, Bengaluru is dealing with a dire shortage of water. 

“Whereas residents are chasing water tankers and taking fewer showers, many count on exterior options like rainwater harvesting, Sewage Therapy Crops (STP) and so forth that enhance provide, as an alternative of parallel adjustments within the family that cut back demand. Perhaps they discover it tough – that’s the place my framework helps,” she provides.

In the meantime for Odette, the genesis of water conservation set off 15 years again when she noticed a chilling presentation ‘Letter within the yr 2070’. It described a world with out water, the place you’d get only one glass of water to drink, be compelled to shave your head, and rub oil in your physique.

“These photographs shook me, forcing me to chop again drastically. Rest room singing throughout earlier prolonged baths was one thing I had to surrender,” she laughs.

Shifting to Bengaluru 9 years again gave her extra causes to save lots of water. “My home ignored low revenue dwellings. I’d see girls fetching water. One was even carrying her toddler, who was additionally armed with an empty bucket. With even young children being made to hold water, this gave a very new worth to how treasured water is,” she tells The Higher India.

“These photographs positioned a accountability on me to save water judiciously. So, despite the fact that water flows abundantly from my faucets, it’s also my accountability to preserve water as it’s a shared useful resource. This was additionally a turning level for me to not solely save water in my dwelling but additionally make others perceive that simply because we will afford water tankers, it doesn’t imply we’re free to maintain losing water,” she provides.

To deal with the colossal neglect of water on the family stage, the 60-year-old has created a one-of-its-kind framework that may assist residents slash recent water utilization. With this easy strategy, she claims to make use of round 1500 litres much less water per day than an equal family. 

She goals to make water-saving easy, and with a measurable end result – everybody opens faucets much less for recent water, whereas nonetheless having sufficient for his or her wants together with her ‘Use much less, Reuse Extra’ system.

Three-mug tub problem

Rising up in a household of 9 in Chennai, Odette realized to make do with a naked minimal quantity of water, to tide over summer time shortages. “However once I began residing by myself, I forgot these practices until I got here throughout that eye-opening video in 2009,” she says. 

Understanding the necessity to preserve water, Odette began bathing utilizing three mugs of water. Almost 5 years again, she grew to become well-known for this. “I bathe with three mugs of water and sure, I don’t scent,” she provides laughingly. 

“A good friend joked that no marvel autocorrect adjustments Odette to Odour! Others teased that they’d cowl their nostril in the event that they run into me sooner or later. All taken in good humour, which helps get consideration to this topic. I reply that it’s good if folks assume I exploit too little, they might begin realising that they use an excessive amount of!” she says.

Odette, who’s the co-founder of Stunning Bharat — a citizen-led motion to deliver a couple of systemic social change within the mindset of individuals — runs a Save-water marketing campaign that features a Minimal Water Problem.

“With my three-mug problem, I’ve managed to place the concept in folks’s minds that three mugs of water is sufficient to bathe. Why use 20 litres of water, if three mugs will do! Earlier, I’d use three mugs of water for normal baths and 6 mugs when washing my hair. Now I can do with three mugs for laundry hair and two mugs for normal baths. I gather that in a bathtub to make use of for flushing,” she says. 

With this, Odette says she has been in a position to deliver her water consumption whereas bathing down from 75 litres to three.6 litres day by day. In truth, that water can also be additional reused, demonstrating her ‘Use much less, reuse extra’ mantra in motion. 

Slash water utilization with easy framework

Odette categorises the utilization of water right into a framework she calls ‘Ecowaternomics’, a water wants hierarchy, just like Maslow’s hierarchy of wants, primarily based on a hierarchical order.

She defines the idea as being economical with water utilization, utilizing solely the naked minimal that one wants, and never as a lot as is abundantly obtainable. This may be achieved by two rules: use much less and reuse extra. Utilizing much less is apparent however wants reminding (low faucet circulation, faucet off when not wanted, no operating water, and no leaks). 

Her subsequent query, “Would you bathe with mineral water?” emphasises the second a part of her system – to reuse extra. “We wouldn’t waste water of upper purity to wash, but all of us use recent water out of a faucet for laundry mops or rinsing soiled dishes when water of decrease purity works simply as simply,” she provides.

Primarily based on her calculations, she says most households require recent water for less than 30-40 p.c of their wants, remaining water wants will be met by reusing this water. “Water that you just let down the drain is at all times good for another function,” she suggests.

She factors out the hidden sources of water obtainable on the family stage: water from washing palms, rice/pulses, fruit and veggies, waste RO water, water from defrosting, and washer outlet water. “Whereas these usually are not match for consuming, they are often reused for different functions, even when clear, cloudy, soapy or muddy,” she provides.

(See slide: Ecowaternomics framework)

For example, Odette provides that when you use recent purified water for consuming, cooking, and washing fruit and veggies, you should utilize recent faucet water for laundry palms and face, brushing enamel, shaving, bathing, washing garments, and bathroom wants. Apart from these functions, you may reuse water.

“For each one litre of filtered water, RO wastes three litres of water. Sadly, many let this down the drain however it’s nonetheless clear water so can be utilized to mop flooring and wash vessels,” she explains.

“Making use of the hierarchy of wants precept, I can not deliver myself to make use of clear RO waste water on vegetation, as cloudy water collected from washing greens/dals works completely right here or for rinsing soiled dishes – once more why use water of a better purity than wanted! I exploit the rejected water from the RO for mopping after which reuse it once more for watering vegetation, probably as a result of I exploit natural cleaners,” she provides.

Curiously, Odette makes natural cleaners that make the water protected to reuse. 

“In place of bathroom cleaners and flooring cleaners, I exploit do-it-yourself bio enzymes that can be utilized to wash bogs, flooring, and disinfect fruits. I reuse this to water my vegetation. Bio enzymes are helpful for vegetation because it acts as a fertiliser,” she says.

To make this natural cleaner, Odette says, combine three elements of fruit peels with one a part of jaggery in 10 elements of water in an hermetic jar, stirring day by day to launch gasoline. “After six weeks, it’ll be prepared to make use of. It additionally leaves a gorgeous aroma,” she provides.

In the meantime, soapy water from washing palms, washer retailers, and garments can be utilized to flush bathrooms, washing mops/dustbins, bogs, washbasins, buckets, driveways, and so forth.

Subsequent, Odette advises amassing cloudy water from washing fruits, greens, rice and pulses for use for rinsing soiled utensils. Lastly, muddy water from mops can be utilized to water vegetation.

Odette was requested, years again, if there may be any have to go to this excessive, for isn’t this all too drastic? “If all of us do extra of this now, future generations won’t be compelled to do that on a regular basis,” she had replied. 

And that situation is nearer than anybody anticipated, she says.

“Not simply Bengalureans, however saving water is one thing everybody throughout cities may make a year-round behavior – water ranges are depleting all over the place. Why look forward to a water disaster to begin. Let’s use water as rigorously as we might if we needed to first carry it, like these girls that I’d described. As a result of each drop does rely!” she concludes.

To assist Odette’s marketing campaign to save lots of water and related campaigns for the atmosphere and a Stunning Bharat, join on Instagram @odettekatrak or @beautifulbharatorg.