The Goa government has offered free non-potable treated water from nine sewage treatment plants (STPs) for use by the public, industries and commercial establishments. The STPs are at Calangute-Baga, Patto-Panaji, Sanquelim, Shirvodem, Margao, Katem-Baina Vasco, Durbhat, Colva and Kavlem-Ponda. Except for drinking, the treated water could be used for gardening, construction-related works, and cleaning purposes. Interested persons or organisations need to use colour-coded tankers, and these cannot be used for potable or sewage waters.
The above is a good initiative to supply treated water from STPs for general use. But firstly, having spent money on pumping arrangements, electricity and manpower, the water should not be a freebie. A nominal amount could be charged since the above-mentioned end-users can well afford to pay. Secondly, the government should have a fool-proof method to check that the treated water is utilised for the intended purposes and not supplied or stealthily transferred into potable water tankers and sold to gullible buyers. The result might be damaging.
