A one-week water audit for gated communities and RWAs

In a water-short year, the residents' welfare association (RWA) is often the best-placed group to cut waste across a building. A simple audit over one week shows where water goes.

1. Daily use. Read the main water meter at the same time on two days. The difference is one day's use. Repeat a few times for a fair average.

2. Per person. Divide that by the number of residents. India's planning standard, BIS code IS 1172, uses 135 litres per person per day for towns with full flushing. For example, 20,000 litres a day for 120 residents is about 167 litres each. That is our illustration, not a target.

3. Hidden leaks. The US EPA's WaterSense programme suggests reading the meter, using no water for two hours, then reading it again. In a building, try it late at night. Any movement points to a leak in pipes, cisterns or taps.

4. Overflow. Check every overhead tank. Hyderabad's water board lists leaving the pump on while a tank overflows as wastage; The Hindu reported in September 2026 that fines can reach ₹20,000 per instance.

5. Rain. Check whether the building has a rainwater recharge pit, and clean it before the next monsoon.

Share the results with residents, fix the biggest leak first and repeat the audit after a month.

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