Hyderabad: To improve the sewage system and address the problem of sewage overflow, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewage Board (HMWSSB) is taking action. The board plans to make it mandatory for multi-storey and commercial buildings to have silt chambers for their sewerage connections.
During a 90-day special drive, HMWSSB officials found that many sewage blockages were caused by waste from multi-storey buildings. The waste first collects in the silt chamber, where solids settle, allowing only the wastewater to enter the sewage pipeline. However, this process is causing blockages, leading to overflow. In a review meeting held on Saturday, officials decided to make silt chambers a requirement for these buildings and to upgrade the sewerage pipelines.
A senior HMWSSB officer explained that many large multi-storey buildings have replaced old independent houses, but the sewerage pipelines have not been upgraded. The old pipelines cannot handle the increased pressure, which leads to frequent blockages and overflows. The board is urging building owners to upgrade their pipelines to match the current needs. Notices are being issued to those who need to make these upgrades. Additionally, the board is encouraging the installation of proper sewage outlets in residential areas.
The water board is also planning to take strict action against multi-storey building owners who do not install silt chambers for their sewage connections. During inspections, large amounts of insoluble waste like food waste, plastic bottles, coconut shells, clothes, and napkins were found in manholes, especially in commercial and multi-storey buildings. Notices have already been sent to some commercial buildings, and a deadline for silt chamber construction is expected to be set by the end of December. If the silt chambers are not in place by the deadline, the board is considering taking strong measures.
