MISSION

To provide safe & sufficient potable water to every citizen of Surat city through water supply distribution network.

Background Of Water Sources - Year 1898 to 2007

• Main source of water for the city has been the river Tapi since centuries.
• Varachha Water Works was commissioned in the year 1898, to serve 1.08 Lacs population & 8.25 Sq.Km area with water supply from infiltration wells. After that, tube wells were constructed at Varachha & Sarthana to increase the capacity.
• In the year 1985, Radial collecting wells (2 Nos) were constructed at Sarthana and water distribution stations were constructed at Khatodara, Umarwada & Katargam.
• To harness the river water for flood control, agriculture, power generation, domestic and industrial purposes the Kakarapar weir & Ukai dam were constructed in the year 1954 and 1972 respectively by the State Government.
• The City witnessed a tremendous growth in textile, diamond and jari industries during sixties and seventies. This was followed by a spurt in major industrial activities in and around the city, like the development of Hazira industrial complex. Industrial and commercial activities had given Surat a place of prominence in the whole country.
• In the year 1995, gross average daily water supply was 180 MLD to a population of about 18 Lacs. There was an acute shortage of water supply due to sudden increase of migrated population to the city due to its development coupled with silting in river bed which reduced the yield from underground sources of water. Moreover, high tides of river were affecting the quality of surface water also up to Sarthana & thereby resulting in salty water. This required an urgent solution at that time.
• A weir-cum-causeway was constructed across river Tapi in the year 1995 at Rander-Singanpore by Surat Municipal Corporation at a total project cost of Rs.35 Crores. The project was implemented with the concept of public-private partnership, whereby total capital cost was contributed by Hazira area industries - like Reliance, Essar, NTPC, L&T, GAIL etc and O&M of the same is carried out by Surat Municipal Corporation at its own cost. Due to the construction of weir, a reservoir of about 31000 TCM (Thousand Cubic Meter) capacity became available for drawing surface water. Also the effect of high tides from the sea was controlled.
• Due to construction of weir across river Tapi, development of new water works became possible near the city. Hence second water works for the city was commissioned at Katargam in the year 1997, after nearly a century at a total project cost of about Rs.25 Crores. The biggest advantage to the development of Katargam Water Works was the large quantity of always-available harnessed water body nearer to city as compared to other water works. In the first phase of development and as a part of the long-term master plan for the water supply scheme of Surat city, 120 MLD capacity water treatment plant was commissioned in the year 1997. Then in the year 1999, capacity of this water treatment plant was increased to total 240 MLD. Raw water at this water treatment plant was fed by the intake well constructed in the river Tapi.
• Consequently, 120 MLD capacity Water Treatment Plant & 240 MLD capacity raw water Intake Well were commissioned at Sarthana Water Works in the year 2000 at the total project cost of about Rs. 30 Crores. It increased the dependency on surface water source.
• In January 2003, 200 MLD capacity Water Treatment Plant & 360 MLD capacity raw water Intake Well were commissioned at Rander Water Works at total project cost of about Rs.35 Crores.
• Recently, 200 MLD capacity fully automatic water treatment plant with SCADA was commissioned at Sarthana Water Works in March 2007 at a total project cost of Rs.24.22 Crores.

Functions of the department

• Long-term Planning, Design & Implementation & Monitoring of various Water Supply Schemes according to Master Plan.
• Implementation of various water supply projects like- augmentation of new sources of water, development of new water works/ water distribution stations, increasing capacity of existing water treatment plants/ Intake wells/ underground tanks, Construction of overhead tanks, design, procurement & laying of transmission pipelines and distribution pipelines, procurement & installation of valves etc. is carried out by floating public tenders & appointing capable contractors as approved by the competent sanctioning authority of Surat Municipal Corporation.
• Issue of new licenses & renewal of existing licenses for plumbers.
• Providing water tankers in the deficient area and where any complaints are received about quality/quantity of water supplied through pipeline.
• Maintenance of all the water works, water treatment plants water distribution stations, valves, transmission pipelines and distribution pipelines is done either departmentally or by appointing private participants.

How the potable water reaches to the consumer ?

• Extracting surface/sub-surface water from sources - like River Intake wells, Jack wells, Infiltration wells and bore wells.
• Treatment of raw water by Pre-Chlorination, Primary treatment and Filtration upto the standards of safe drinking water.
• Quality Control and Laboratory testing at treatment stage
• Transmission of treated water from Water Works to Water Distribution Stations, located in different parts of the city via Transmission pipelines
• Post-Chlorination & Distribution of treated water to the consumers from different Water Distribution Stations via distribution pipelines, during supply hours.
• Day to day collection of water samples from different water points of water distribution system, laboratory testing (chemical analysis and bacteriological testing) of the collected samples and feed back of results to the Hydraulic Department - Remedial measures taken, if required.