Prakash Nagar Building Sets Benchmark with Four Recharge Pits; Water Board Urges Wider Adoption

A residential building in Prakash Nagar has demonstrated how developers and homeowners can strengthen long-term water security by going beyond mandatory rainwater harvesting norms prescribed for obtaining an Occupancy Certificate (OC). 

The property, owned by Vinod Sri Bhashyam, features four recharge pits, each measuring 6 ft x 4 ft x 6 ft, that collect rooftop rainwater and channel it underground through a dedicated pipeline network. According to the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB), the system has helped the property's borewell remain functional even during the summer months. 

The Water Board stated that the project exceeds the mandatory rainwater harvesting norms by incorporating additional recharge pits with future water security in mind. It urged homeowners, apartment associations and commercial building owners to divert rooftop rainwater into recharge pits, soak pits or defunct borewells instead of allowing it to flow into drains, helping replenish groundwater and improve borewell sustainability.

Meanwhile, HMWSSB Managing Director Ashok Reddy said rainwater harvesting should not be viewed merely as a requirement for obtaining an Occupancy Certificate but as an investment in future water security. He also commended apartment communities and homeowners across Hyderabad who have voluntarily installed recharge pits and injection wells, noting that such initiatives are improving groundwater levels, enhancing summer water availability and reducing dependence on water tankers.