Water Supply: New Initiatives In Pipeline

Alternate Source of Raw Water

• Since centuries, city is substantially dependent on surface water of river Tapi for daily water supply.
• In the absence of any alternative source of water, city water supply may got hampered due to any unforeseen situation (like drought in consecutive years) in future.
• To create an alternate source of water, 3 possibilities are being activitely considered:
  • Laying 58 Km. long pipeline from Kakrapar to Surat
  • Constructing 3 new french wells
  • Balloon Barrage at Piplod

Assessment of Water losses & Water Audit

• Water supply segment in India is making progress in developing infrastructure for its need. Very few water utilities in the country are managing services that are reliable, sustainable and affordable. Most of the water supply systems in the country are old with the result that the aging pipelines in distribution pipe network are profusely leaking.
• Non Revenue Water (NRW), which is the difference between the quantities of treated water put into the distribution system and the quantity of water that is billed to the consumers. With high NRW, water sector faces problems in their routine operation and maintenance in the system. Due to frequent leakages in its distribution system, water utility provides less quantity of water to its consumers than that was planned. Loss of treated water amounts to a considerable financial loss and therefore, water sector has to bear low income affecting sustainability of the system. Distribution systems have been expanded haphazardly.
• In order to improve the system, it is the need of the hour to know the extent of loss of water in system. To address this, water audit (“a thorough accounting of all water into and out of a utility as well as anin-depth record and field examination of the distribution system that carries the water, with the intent to determine the operational efficiency of the system and identify sources of water loss and revenue loss”) will help to keep track of water that is being lost and thus to know the extent of NRW.
• Present metered connection is 0.42% only. So, amount of water being received by consumer is also not known in absence of 100% consumer metering. So, in order to assess the losses in transmission and distribution in old water supply scheme, comprehensive water audit is very much needed. Assessment of losses in terms of NRW / UFW will help to address issues like water security, universal access of water, economization / rationalization of cost (Rs. /KL) and water conservation in general.

NRW Cell

• Designing and implementing comprehensive water audit
• Assessment of water supply network for
  • NRW / UFW
  • Leakages
  • Losses
• Incorporation and usage of advanced leakage detection system / instrument / equipment for assessment of leakages etc.
• Leakage Mapping and network rehabilitation program
• Design and implementation of NRW/UFW, loss reduction program(s)
• Periodic generation of water balance report and overall water audit report
• Seeking help from experts in the field
• Co-ordinating with Energy Efficiency Cell and other concern departments
• Implementation of all measures required for improvement in the efficiency and effectiveness of the network.

Ballon Barrage

• Need of Ballon Barrage
  • Long term planning for adequate water supply
  • Limited reservoir capacity for surface water of 31 MCM
  • Wastage of excess water spilled and released from Singanpore Weir
  • Perceptible Tidal silting and pollution
  • Increasing Salinity intrusion in coastal areas of city ( Umra, Rundh) etc.
  • Lack of water based recreational zone.
• Benefits of Ballon Barrage
  • Formation of 10.0 km Long reservoir for future water crisis management.
  • Drinking water supply from reservoir
  • Ground water recharging d/s. of weir.
  • Prevention of tidal effects on weir-cum-causeway
  • Restrict tidal silting
  • Prevention of bank erosion due to tidal effect.
  • Development of water sports activity.
  • Development of religious places on river banks
  • Improving aesthetic beauty and environment of Surat.
  • Development of amusement park on the river bank.
  • Development of stepped garden, river drive road on river banks.

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