Water Management
Muslima Alia
Across Indian cities, water wastage is a growing concern, with apartment complexes contributing significantly to the problem. One of the main causes? Overflows from water tanks. The irony? No one really knows what's happening above those rooftops!
Overflows in smaller apartments are easier to catch—you might hear water spilling or see it dripping down. However, overflows often go unnoticed in larger complexes with bigger tanks and motors, leading to major water loss, higher costs, and environmental harm.
From monitoring over 100 apartment complexes, overflow stands out as a key issue. So, what is water overflowing? It’s simply water spilling from a tank when it’s full, often caused by neglect or faulty controls. Let’s explore its causes and how to prevent it.
Common Causes of Water Overflow in Apartment Water Tanks
Understanding the root causes of water overflows can help in preventing them. Here are the most common reasons:
Manual Pump Operation: Operating pumps manually often results in human error, such as forgetting to switch off the pump on time. This leads to unnecessary water wastage, higher energy consumption, and an increased risk of overflows.
Faulty Equipment: Malfunctioning devices like sensors, broken float valves, or damaged water level indicators can cause pumps to run inefficiently. These faults disrupt the water system, resulting in overflows or leaving tanks dry, which affects the overall water supply.
High Demand Mismanagement: In large apartment complexes, water systems without proper regulation often fail to handle fluctuating water demands. This can result in over-pumping, which wastes water and energy, or under-pumping, leading to water shortages and inconvenience for residents.
Lack of Real-Time Monitoring: Without the ability to monitor tank levels in real-time, issues like overflows often remain unnoticed until significant water and energy losses occur. This delay can also cause damage to equipment and increase maintenance costs.
Why Water Overflow is More Costly in Large Apartments?
Water overflows in larger apartments pose significant challenges as they greatly amplify the impact of inefficiency. Here's how:
Larger Pumps, Greater Overflows: Bigger pumps have higher water-pumping capacities and faster flow rates, meaning overflows result in significantly more water wastage and higher utility bills.
Increased Energy Consumption: High-capacity pumps require more power and longer runtimes to manage tank refills after overflows, driving up electricity costs.
Higher Maintenance Costs: The rapid flow and frequent overflows can lead to waterlogging, structural issues, and equipment wear, resulting in expensive repairs.
How Much Water Is Wasted Due to Overflow in Apartment Complexes?
To understand the scale of water wastage, consider this: A submersible pump can handle anywhere from 800 liters per hour for smaller models to over 400,000 liters per hour for high-capacity pumps. With larger pumps or multiple buildings, water demand increases significantly. Even just one hour of overflow can result in massive water waste, which multiplies with more pumps in operation.
For example, in a recent case study on a 4.1-acre property in Hyderabad with five towers, powerful motors wasted 15 lakh liters of water in a month due to overflows. This caused the motor to run 320 extra hours, increasing monthly expenses by ₹1.5 lakh in water and electricity costs. Over a year, these avoidable losses totaled ₹18 lakh.
This example underscores the urgent need for monitoring and control solutions like Waltr to eliminate such wastage.
How a Smart Water Management Solutions Prevent Overflow?
Real-Time Water Level Control: Waltr A acts as a water level indicator, continuously monitoring water levels and automatically shutting off pumps when tanks are full, preventing overflows.
Automated Pump Management: Waltr C ensures efficient auto pump control, responding to real-time water level data and managing pump operations without manual intervention, ensuring consistent water supply.
Instant Alerts & Remote Monitoring: The system detects any unusual activity and sends immediate notifications, enabling users to take timely action and prevent issues related to water levels.
Optimized Energy Use: Smart pumps operate only when necessary, reducing energy consumption and lowering operational costs with automatic pump control.
By adopting these intelligent systems, apartments can eliminate water wastage, cut expenses, and promote sustainable water usage practices.
With water scarcity becoming a pressing issue in cities like Bangalore, particularly in 2024, efficient water management is no longer optional. Smart solutions, such as water level monitors and pump controllers, not only prevent overflows but also bring significant financial and environmental benefits
At Waltr, we’re committed to solving water management challenges with innovative products that save water, reduce costs, and promote sustainability.
Follow our journey on social media, purchase our products on Amazon, or reach out to us at www.waltr.in to learn more.