Bengaluru Architect Purifies Water With Plants, Harvests 1.3 Lakh Litres Rainwater Per Year
In Bengaluru, Jaya Rayaprolu, a Principal Architect, has designed a home that exemplifies sustainable living. “We have been living here for the last two years in a very sustainable way,” she says. Her home is an architectural marvel and proof of how eco-friendly solutions can be seamlessly integrated into daily life.
One of the standout features of this house is its rainwater harvesting system. “We’re standing on top of an underground sump – this is where we collect all of our rainwater,” the architect explains, pointing to a massive 30,000-litre tank that stores 1.3 lakh litres of water annually. This water is used for drinking, cooking, and washing, thus reducing reliance on external sources.
But the sustainability does not stop there. Jaya also recycles 800 litres of grey water every day, using a system that begins with a baffle tank. “All the kitchen and bathroom wastewater comes here, and it is treated at the first level,” she details.
From there, the water flows into a reed bed, where aquatic plants naturally purify it. The final step sees the water move to a polished tank, where sunlight kills any remaining bacteria, making it safe for use in gardening and toilet flushing.
Her home also produces zero sewage waste. Thanks to a three-foot by four-foot DRDO-developed biodigester, sewage is converted into 95% pure water. This has bioenzymes which consume this sewage,” Jaya says. “That water can be used for watering the garden, or you can even let it out into the soil for recharging the water table,” she adds.
Built with sun-dried bricks from soil excavated during construction, the mud home stays naturally cool even in Bengaluru’s scorching summers due to smart ventilation. Power needs are met by 3kW solar panels, guaranteeing zero electricity bills.
“With zero electricity bills and zero wastewater, this house isn’t just sustainable – it’s the future,” says the architect.
Edited by Vidya Gowri
News