MEERUT: Residents of cantonment area may soon get innovative water dispensers, known as water ATMs. The installation of such dispensers would be feasible for locals who need clean drinking water when they are out of home, especially during the summer months.

Water ATMs will function like regular ATMs, where users can swipe a card and select the amount of water they intend to draw from the kiosk. A user will be able to draw a maximum of 20 litres at a time. Money will be deducted from the smart card, depending on the volume of water drawn from the ATM. Each ATM will operate as a standalone water kiosk with a capacity of 500 litres. It will be is filled up to 300-400 litres to ensure that water gets consumed completely.

To speed up the process, chief executive officer of the Meerut Cantt Board (MCB), Rajeev Shrivastava, met officials of Piramal Sarvjal to discuss the setting up of water ATMs on Wednesday.

After the meeting, the CEO said, “The proposal, if implemented would be very useful during summers as the need for drinking water increases. We will include the proposal in our agenda for the next board meeting. Hopefully the board will pass the setting up of a couple of water ATMs in the cantonment area as a pilot project. If the response meets our expectation, more such water ATMs would be installed in the cantonment area.”

“The Delhi government had received a positive response after they set up water ATMs in water-starved slums and resettlement colonies. If the board passes the proposal, we will install a couple of water ATMs at Abu Lane, Bombay Bazaar and the Mall Road, near Gandhi Bagh,” said Anuj Singh, Cantt executive engineer.

