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journey of a thousand miles begins growing demand for Sustainable Solutions, Water
with a single step. And the first crucial Reuse and Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) will drive
step we are taking now with the incep- the market in the industrial segment. This means
tion of EXPRESS WATER magazine that innovation will obviously be the key, and con-
will have to go beyond the thousand- cepts like Internet-of-Things (IoT) for a green and
mile mark. That’s how we will be able to follow our vi- sustainable infrastructure, and more cost-effective
sion - of being a community engagement platform decentralized treatment systems would find favor.
that brings the world’s water communities together. The water sector is truly at a crucial juncture.
The water community has various stakeholders - EXPRESS WATER would be at the forefront to
governments, industrial users, technology vendors, consistently highlight such trends. To become the
consultants, institutes, water experts, policy-makers, most trusted source of information and help you
contractors, EPCs, etc. Moreover, as an industry, we make informed buying decisions, we will come up
are still not completely organized. Different commu- with the right blend of project news, products, market
nication mediums are present in the industry, only trends, and analysis. We will address a wide range of
providing a one-sided flow of information mostly on issues in diverse disciplines of water & wastewater
the technology and its implementation. Consequently, from across the globe and most importantly India.
we always felt the lack of a strong binding force which For inaugural issue what could have been better
could bring all the stakeholders together on one plat- for us than going to the leaders of the water sector
form - to share ideas, opinions, and most significantly and asking for their collective wisdom on water. Our
the invaluable experiences. “If there is magic on esteemed authors and their organizations represent
EXPRESS WATER magazine aims to fill this very this planet,it is a complete water ecosystem in this issue’s cover
gap. Winning the trust of all the stakeholders will be a story.
challenge to us. Therefore, we aim to be neutral, unaf- contained in water.”- Let us know your thoughts on our inaugural issue.
fected by the market pressure, to provide unbiased Loren Eiseley Send us your suggestions and contributions. After all,
content and space for the water sector to converse as a community, we can only prosper as long as we
and converge. We derive this strength from the core stay connected and keep sharing the magic of water.
philosophy of the Indian Express group.
As per a recent market-report by Frost, this year
the key predictions for municipal water and waste- MAYUR SHARMA
water segment include Sustainability, Customer En- Editor
gagement, Smart Water Management, etc., while mayur.sharma@expressindia.com
@TheExpressWater
Viveck Goenka
06 INTERVIEW - SADHGURU
Founder, Isha Foundation
Sr Vice President - BPD
Pravin Temble
62 POST EVENT - IFAT INDIA
2017
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66 MARKET REPORTS
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General Manager
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WATER DIALOGUE
With
Sadhguru
Founder, Isha Foundation
Ranked amongst the fifty most
influential people in India, Sadhguru
is a yogi, mystic, visionary and
bestselling author. He has been
conferred the ‘Padma Vibhushan’ by
the Government of India in 2017. He
recently completed a nationwide
Rally for Rivers campaign in which he
drove himself covering 9300
kilometers, 16 states and over 142
events, at the end of which he
submitted first copy of a draft policy
with recommendations on revival of
rivers in India to Prime Minister
Narendra Modi. Sadhguru, in an
interaction with Mayur Sharma
shares his thoughts on water and his
initiative for rivers...
WHAT IS WATER for you? This is a responsibility demand on the river can be and endemic vegetation – What do you see as the key
How essential it is to un- that we owe to the future reduced by 40 to 50%. This appropriate trees, grasses challenges to conserving,
derstand the significance generations. As a genera- will decrease the pressure and shrubs. This need not restoring, and rejuvenating
of water in today's world? tion of people, we have on the river system and be limited to one kilometer rivers?
Sadhguru: Water is not a caused the maximum dam- enhance the income of the from the river. It can cover Sadhguru: There are
commodity, it is life-making age. As a generation, even if farmer at the same time. the entire area of the gov- many complexities involved
material. Whenever we look we can’t fix everything, at If we implement this ernment land. in this. There are legislative
for life, we look for a drop of least we must drive in the properly in the next eight to The rest of the land is in challenges, there are legal
water first! 70% of our body right direction towards ten years, you will see the the farmers’ hands. It is not challenges, there are social
itself is water. In this cul- what must be done. water situation in the fair to ask the poor farmer challenges and there are
ture, we did not see rivers nation will improve. But if to save the river or the economic challenges. But
as just water bodies. We see What was the impetus for we wait for 15, 20 years and nation or the ecology – it’s one of the biggest chal-
them as life-giving gods and 'Rally for Rivers' cam- then attempt to reverse the just ridiculous. So what we lenges is that rivers do not
goddesses. To a thinking paign? How is it different problem, it will take a much have evolved is an econom- respect state borders
mind, which is confined to than the earlier campaigns longer time to turn around. ic plan with a significant because they flow across
the limitations of its logic, for saving rivers? ecological impact. If a the nation as they want.
this may sound foolish or Sadhguru: Rivers have How would you explain the farmer shifts from crop- The central government
very rudimentary. “A river is been the lifelines of this concept of 'River Revital- based to tree-based agri- can make an overarching
a river, how is it a goddess?” nation. We are a culture ization'? Who are the culture, his income can go policy but the river flows in
If you lock up such a person that has grown out of a stakeholders? up anywhere between three the geography of the
in a room without giving riverbank. But today, our Sadhguru: My entire to eight times in five to states. Essentially, it is in
him water for three days, rivers are at dangerous lev- effort in this is to somehow seven years’ time by going the hands of the state to
and then show him a glass els of depletion. If you fly marry science and politics. for right selection of trees implement. This concur-
of water, he will bow down over India, the nation looks All married people under- with efficient supply chain rence between the center
to it – not to a river, just a like brown desert. Many stand that when you marry, management. The farmer and state has not been hap-
glass of water! rivers don’t even touch the you have to make compro- can live a good life and the pening for the last seventy
Water is an essential ele- ocean many months of the mises – otherwise it won’t nation’s soil and water
“
ment of your survival, but year. When rain comes it last! In any relationship, will be taken care of.
today, the kind of water situ- floods, otherwise there’s whether it is a marriage or If we demonstrate that
ation India is facing is really nothing. This is not a situa- the marketplace, both the this can be economically
dire. The per capita volume tion we can afford to ignore parties must benefit other- successful for a farmer, the It would be ideal if
of water that is available in anymore. wise it is not going to work. government and adminis-
India today is only twenty- Various policies are So it is very important all tration will not have to
we evaluate the
five percent of what was required to protect the river the stakeholders benefit in enforce or implement any- economic gains from
available in 1947. Today, as the problems faced are this policy. thing. It will just spread by (on-going river)
there are many towns and diverse. However, most cam- The first stakeholder is itself. Making it economi-
villages in India where they paigns today focus on redis- the river itself. The river cally profitable and sustain-
interlinking projects
bathe only once in three tributing the existing water flow should increase. All the able is the most important and weigh them
days. India’s is a culture and managing pollution life that is sustained in the thing. This is not ecology against the loss of
where no matter what, even entering the river systems. river will naturally benefit versus economy – this is
if you do not eat, you have a There has not been much from that. The next is the economics which sustains
natural resource
shower. Nowadays, people effort to increase the water farmers and other commu- ecology. This is how it has capital, before
are skipping their bath. This flow in the river. Rally for nities which depend on the to be approached. embarking on
is not development; this is Rivers’ focus is in this aspect river for livelihood. They Otherwise it is not going to
not wellbeing. A situation of “Source Augmentation.” must benefit from this. work.
new projects.
seems to be coming where The draft policy for river Allied industry must also It is to ensure that the
we will have to drink water revitalization focuses on the benefit for them to invest in policy is comprehensive
only on alternate days. As a health and life of the river as agricultural produce and and takes into account all years.
nation, we are not organized a living entity. It proposes infrastructure. Next is the stakeholders’ interests that When I was in
enough nor do we have the tree plantation along the larger community – those we have presented the Puducherry, the honorable
resources to move millions river sides as a means for of us who live in towns and draft policy in the public Chief Minister, Sri
of litres of water from one source augmentation of the cities. Then comes the gov- domain. There is a three- Narayanasamy, lamented
place to another and make river flow. ernment and the local month window during “Sadhguru, when I was in
sure people have water to Most campaigns also do administrations. They must which it is open to sugges- Rajiv Gandhi’s government,
drink. Millions of people not address the needs of benefit in terms of taxes tions and contributions we had a very similar plan
would just die without water. the majority of the stake- and revenue. Only then will from anyone. If someone but we could not get con-
Water is a resource that holders dependent on the this fall into place. This is has experience and wisdom currence from other states.
has to be managed. We have river systems – especially what the draft policy about some aspect that we They were so disparate that
not really paid attention to the farmers. 60 to 80% of involves. have not considered, we it did not happen.” I replied,
this in the last few decades. the water from the river The policy document would definitely look at it. I “Sir, if you had done this
There is an urgent need for system is used for irrigation proposes tree plantation invite everyone with the twenty-five years ago, we
an enforceable policy which purposes. The policy rec- for one kilometer on either necessary expertise to give could have done this with
will determine how we ommendation details how if river side. Out of this, wher- their technical and scientif- ten percent of the effort
should live around our water farmers shift to tree-based ever the land is govern- ic inputs to strengthen the that we are putting in right
bodies, what we should do agriculture with micro-irri- ment-owned, it should policy for better implemen- now. But at least now you
and what we should not do. gation practices, the water become forest, with native tation. are here and it’s fantastic.”
“
posed projects of river-in- back the tree cover on
terlinking and increasing either sides of the river is
It is important that the water transport? Will they the only long-term sustain-
be beneficial or harmful in able solution to address
citizens of India give a the long run? water scarcity and reduce
resounding “Yes!”to river Sadhguru: Whenever we the impact of floods and
revitalization. It should look to redistribute water, it droughts.
be such a big a number should be done in a very
calibrated way. If it is need- Rivers' natural flow has
that political parties ed somewhere for flood also been affected over the
that depend on mitigation, it may have to years because huge
people’s vote, will be done. But thinking that amounts of water are be-
not forget it. all our problems will be ing diverted in canals, for
solved if you link rivers is agriculture and industries,
not true. etc. What are your
River-interlinking is thoughts about it?
based on the assumption Sadhguru: Agriculture in
that some river basins have India is using up sixty to
“surplus” water supply eighty percent of the water
The Chief Ministers of all source pollution can be is 0.05 percent. This is a while others have “deficit”, in the river. If we look at
the sixteen states that I handled by incentivizing sure recipe for the desertifi- and by linking them, water many other nations that
drove through are on board. adaptation of wastewater cation of this land, which supply can be more evenly are growing similar crops –
This is concurrence. This is treatment technologies has provided food for us for distributed. From our inter- with much better yields –
something that we could and heavy disincentivizing thousands of years. actions with scientists, we they are using much less
not do for seventy years but of polluters. Soil and rivers are have learnt that the idea of water.
our political leadership has The use of chemicals for deeply connected. If we a “surplus” or “deficit” Our policy recommenda-
matured today, where we cultivation should also be deplete our soil, we will also basin is limited and does tion strongly advises a shift
are all willing to sit togeth- avoided in the riverside deplete our rivers. not take into consideration to tree-based agriculture
er, stand together and work areas. If our farmers are to varying climatic conditions. practices with implementa-
together for a cause that get good yields and make a What does the draft policy For example, the mon- tion of micro-irrigation
matters to the nation. living out of agriculture, says about current river soons have been weaken- technologies. If we bring in
Across the spectrum of what is needed is not projects being imple- ing over the last few the right kind of technolo-
political parties, every one chemical inputs into the mented across India? decades in various parts of gies and create the neces-
of them are speaking in one soil. What is needed is Sadhguru: The draft pol- India and the rainfall in sary humus on the land, the
voice and supporting Rally organic content. Soil will be icy recommendation’s parts of the country is now consumption of water will
for Rivers. This is a wonder- healthy only if we can put purview is majorly in happening for fewer days go down significantly, and
ful development in the back leaves from the trees increasing the river flow in and often in very intense that itself will make the
country because this was the next 10 to 15 years. If spells. The “surplus” basins river flow.
“
the big hurdle that we this does not happen, may, in fact, face water We must understand
failed to cross so far. there won’t be enough stress due to these that the large dams were
water for any of these proj- changes. built when we were in a sur-
What are some of your pro- If you pay for your ects to be relevant. A few interlinking proj- vival mode as a nation. In
posed plans to ensure a The nature of demand ects have already rolled 1947, we were left with a
'nirmal' (pollution-free) sewage, what goes and supply management out. It would be ideal if we country that had no means
and 'aviral' (uninter- into the river will be projects, such as dams and evaluate the economic to live. The average life
rupted) flow of rivers? reasonably good hydroelectric projects, are gains from these projects expectancy was thirty-two
Sadhguru: The draft poli- immediate and short-term and weigh them against the years. There was no indus-
cy looks at how a minimum water.This doesn’t solutions when we see it loss of natural resource try, business, commerce –
environmental flow of water take decades to fix. from the perspective of the capital, before embarking everything was destroyed
must be maintained in country’s lifetime. The deci- on new projects. Any new when the British left.
rivers till the sea coast. This sion whether to go or not go proposal for interlinking For almost fifty years, we
flow must be sufficient for and animal waste into it. To for such projects should must strictly be evaluated have done many desperate
the flora and fauna in the call soil, soil, a minimum of arise out of solid scientific on the basis of scientific things while in survival
riverine ecosystem. This two percent organic con- studies with a consultation and environmental merit mode. That happens in the
minimum flow should be tent has to be there in the process including all stake- and long-term sustainabili- life of a nation.
mandated for every river. soil. If you take away this holders. ty, rather than on the basis Unfortunately our popula-
The draft also looks at organic content, soil Environmental impact of emotions and politics. tions multiplied too rapidly –
how an effective implemen- becomes unfit for cultiva- assessment studies must be And while assessing poten- not necessarily because of
tation of an appropriate tion. In states like Punjab, conducted before the start tial benefits, in the context reproduction – but simply
regulatory framework must Haryana, in Marathwada in of any such initiative even if of our tropical climate, we because the life expectancy
happen, to control river pol- Maharashtra, southern it is has sound scientific should account for the improved, which is a won-
lution – both point source Tamil Nadu, northern background. This has been resultant loss of water via derful achievement. But
such as industrial sewage Karnataka, and some parts covered in the draft policy evaporation and ground from thirty-three crores we
and non-point source such of Andhra Pradesh, the recommendation that has seepage. came to hundred-and-thirty
as agricultural runoff. Point organic content in the soil been made public. In India, rivers are most- crores. So the pressure on
“
the land has increased. The percent of the electorate. the river sides. If you take
land-population ratio is very Usually, that’s how much it away all the vegetation
bad in India. All these are the takes to win an election. water will run away.
realities we have to work But the young people in the In this country, the way An enforceable
with. country should not stop at our monsoons work is such law to
So for the first fifty years thirty crore. All of us are that we have only an aver-
we have been in survival water drinking species, age of forty-five days of determine how
mode. For the last twenty isn’t it? So everybody who rain. What comes down in we behave with
years, we have been in consumes water must Rally forty-five days, we are our water
developmental mode. Now, for Rivers. required to hold it in the bodies is a
a time has come – the Rally land and slowly let it into
for Rivers is a turning point Would you say there is a the rivers. You and me can-
must.
– where we have to shift to a need to make changes in not do this. Only large-scale
sustainable mode. our Water Policies as a na- vegetation or forests can
tion, or the current policies do this. Where there is veg-
What is the realistic time are sufficient? etation, where there is an
frame we should look at, Sadhguru: There is a enormous root system, and
for the revival of our definitely a need for a where there is a whole lot of
rivers? national policy to treat our bioactivity, when rain falls,
Sadhguru: If we do the rivers as a national treas- it will percolate into the soil
right things for the next ten ure, not as individual pri- and will be held there, and
to fifteen years in a con- vate property - as is being slowly flow into the rivers.
certed way, then in the next done right now. As I said This will reduce the effects
twenty to twenty-five years, above, water is a resource of both flood and drought.
we will have an increase of that has to be managed, One thing that we tend
anywhere between fifteen and our nation has unfortu- to overlook is that floods
to twenty percent of the nately not looked at this every once in a few years is
river flows. properly. An enforceable part of the natural ecosys-
Twenty to twenty-five law to determine how we tem. Every river’s 100-year
years means four to five behave with our water bod- flood level has been
governments – going by the ies is a must, which takes marked and this area is
usual democratic process. into consideration the meant for the flood waters
We don’t know which party entire spectrum of preser- to pass through. The rea-
will be in power after twenty vation of soil, the many son there is a lot of damage
years, but if we want to keep species of life and the water and destruction during
all of them focused on this, resource in this country. It floods is because we have business. If we make it eco- electricity and gas are
it is important that the citi- can no longer be left to indi- settled in the lands where nomically viable, people will metered and you pay for
zens of India give a resound- vidual people to decide the river is supposed to participate in it. As I said what you use. Why can’t we
ing “Yes!” to river revitaliza- what they want to do or not flood. And because of earlier, it should not be have a system where you
tion. It should be such a big do with our rivers. reduction in the permanent ecology versus economy – pay for the sewage that
a number that political par- green cover in the river’s it should be economics comes out of your house or
ties that depend on people’s Every year, we see catchment areas, the which sustains ecology. industry. The private sector
vote, will not forget it. droughts and depletion in impact of the flood on peo- can set up water treatment
The way to make your water levels of rivers and ple is increasing. Finally, what are your facilities and the law can
voice heard is to give a lakes, and on the other The increase in frequen- thoughts on the current mandate the minimum
missed call to a number we hand floods are also a ma- cy of floods is also a part of practices of Sewage Treat- quality of the water before
have setup for this: 80009 jor concern. How should global climate change, and ment and Wastewater it is let out into the river.
80009. A missed call is your we balance our priorities? what we do as a country Reuse? And how should A public-private partner-
vote for river revitalization. Sadhguru: This cycle of alone will not be enough to the industries support the ship system needs to be
We have got over 12 crore flood and drought is address this issue. This government? established and run sus-
missed calls so far – making because we are not able to needs to determined action Sadhguru: Pollution is a tainably and efficiently. The
this a landmark people’s hold the water in the land. from leaders around the major issue that our rivers way the roads in our country
movement in post-inde- There is a very beautiful world. are facing, but I don’t see have been developed in
pendence India. During the saying in the Tamil lan- Unfortunately, what I see why these issues are not such a short span of time is
30-day rally, I drove over guage, which was said hun- right now is that we still being handled yet. It just a case in point to show that
9300 kilometers, and the dreds of years ago. They don’t seem to be serious takes a stringent law to fix it such initiatives are possible.
response from the people said, “Kaveri should come about handling the ecologi- in a matter of four to five It is just that these aspects
was phenomenal. There walking, she should not cal disaster we are heading years. There is no need for have not been prioritized. If
were 142 on-the-ground run. If she runs there will be towards. We are not yet us to go and clean a river. If you pay for your sewage,
events and 186 one-on-one destruction.” This is the looking for solutions, we you stop putting pollutants what goes into the river will
media interviews. wisdom of the past. If we are only looking to slow into the river, it will clean be reasonably good water.
But I am asking for a have to make her walk, we down the disaster. If we itself in one flood season. This doesn’t take decades
minimum of thirty crore are not talking about put- want an effective solution What is needed are laws to fix. The necessary tech-
missed calls from the peo- ting up dams. If Kaveri is to to be implement in a short and the necessary determi- nology is already present.
ple of the nation is because walk, there must be sub- timeframe, we must make nation to implement them. What is needed is intent and
thirty crore is about forty stantial vegetation along ecological solutions into a For example, today, water, commitment to execute.
WATER DIALOGUE
With
Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee
Additional Municipal
Commissioner (Projects),
Municipal Corporation of
Greater Mumbai (MCGM)
Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee, IAS of 1996
batch is best known for his ability to
successfully execute some of the
most challenging, ambitious and
prestigious projects in Maharashtra.
In his current avatar as the Additional
Municipal Commissioner (Projects) of
the Municipal Corporation of Greater
Mumbai, he is responsible for the
mega projects undertaken by MCGM,
like the Costal Road Project, Mumbai
Sewage Disposal Project, Solid Waste
Management and several water
supply projects. He is also responsible
for ensuring safe drinking water to all
the citizens of Mumbai, managing the
city’s sewage system, property tax,
octroi, all matters of finance and
taxation of MCGM, etc. In
conversation with Mayur Sharma...
“
What is WATER for you?
Dr. Mukherjee: Water is
one of the most abundant-
ly available and most I am happy to inform
unusual substances pres- you that we have
ent on our planet. One
comes across water in dif-
been able to resolve
ferent forms like rain, river, all the issues of the
lakes, ice or sea, etc. Mumbai Sewage
Though ¾ surface of earth
is covered with water, most
Disposal Project
of it, say about 97% is in (MSDP) – and the
the oceans, which is dense project has begun.
with salts and not useful for
drinking or irrigation. The
remaining 3% water is in
the form of glaciers, deep a high density of slums,
aquifers and surface water. where it is very difficult to
The readily available sur- extend the piped network.
face sources are less than In addition, there are settle-
1% of water available on ments on elevated terrains
earth. in the fag-end of the sys-
The association of tem. Almost the entire
human beings with water water supply of Mumbai is
starts even before his birth, planned in such a way that
i.e. the embryo swims in it the supply is by gravity,
for nine prenatal months in resulting in huge savings of
the warmth of the mother’s power. Therefore, we have
womb. For that matter, the huge challenges of in-equi-
very life on this planet table distribution, contami-
begins in the water. Every nation, poor asset life, diffi-
cell in human body has a culties in leak detection, We are in the process of For fresh water, we are What is your budget for
fluid interior e.g. blood is and a high quotient of non- upgrading our wastewater planning the Gargai Project the water & wastewater
90% water, kidney is 82% revenue-water. treatment facilities and (440 MLD), the Pinjal projects in current finan-
water, muscles are 75% Essentially, these chal- plan to create about 1500- Project (845 MLD) and the cial year? How do you plan
water, liver is 69% water lenges are being overcome 1800 MLD of tertiary treat- Damanganga Pinjal River to spend it?
and living bones are 22% by reducing the demand- ed water daily in the next 5 Link Projects. Thus, we Dr. Mukherjee: The gen-
water. As a physical entity, a supply gap. The Middle years. This shall be sup- have a holistic plan in place eral budget will mainly be
living person is 71% water Vaitarna Dam commis- plied for non-potable pur- and its implantation has spent on ‘Asset Renewal’ as
by weight. On an average, a sioned in 2015 has given us poses and the potable commenced. replacement of old
person drinks about 5- an additional 455 MLD water, thus freed, shall be I am happy to mention pipelines and reservoirs
times its weight of water (Million Litres per Day). made available for drinking that we supply 165 LPCD of repairs; strengthening of
per year and in normal life This was the 9th fastest purposes. water daily to our citizens, transmission and distribu-
span consumes about RCC dam in the world and i.e. the highest anywhere. tion system by laying new
“
30,000 litres of water. In the fastest constructed We have also com- pipelines and tunnels;
essence, therefore, we can dam in India. We augment- menced projects of leak refurbishment of existing
say WATER IS LIFE on this ed our sources by 265 detection and repair, con- pipelines by suitable inter-
planet. MLD in the last two years by We (MCGM) are the tamination avoidance, equi- nal lining and external cor-
commissioning the 15.1 km first organization in table distribution, 24/7 rosion resistant coating
Please list a few chal- Gundavli Kapurwadi water supply and the and re-construction of
lenges faced by you in Bhandup Complex Tunnel the country to results are beginning to water treatment plants and
managing the mega-city’s (the longest water supply introduce the show. On the conservation refurbishment of old water
water & wastewater proj- tunnel in the country), the concept of “Open side, we are focussing on treatment plants. Amongst
ects. How do you overcome Modak Sagar Lake Tapping leak-detection, reducing the larger projects, we are
the challenges in them? experiment (again, 2nd of Technology the non-revenue-water per- planning to commence
Dr. Mukherjee: Managing its type in India and 3rd in Deliverable Based centage, metering, improv- work of a conveyance sys-
water supply in a mega-city the world), the commis- Contracts”.This has ing the quality of water and tem of underground tun-
like Mumbai is 24x7 X 365 sioning of the Bhandup educating people on the nels and new pipelines to
days job. Water supply in Water Recycling Plant indeed opened up need to save water. replace our existing old
Mumbai is particularly (2015) and the Panjrapur competition greatly We have appointed a trunk mains.
challenging due to the high Water Recycling plant and has also made high powered committee to
and dense population, the (2016). This is almost equal look into the issues of Please tell us - about the
gap in demand and supply, to the water supply of the the best and proven inequitable distribution. current and upcoming big
the intermittent nature of Tansa Dam, and was technologies Our Water Distribution projects on water treat-
its supply and the distance achieved without any nega- available to us. Improvement Program also ment & sewage treatment.
of its sources. Mumbai has tive environment impact. looks into these aspects. I am happy to inform you
“
that we have been able to flat bottom/ lamella at the progress so far? Looking at the possibilities
resolve all the issues of Panjrapur WTP and Dr. Mukherjee: The of various internal and ex-
Mumbai Sewage Disposal Dissolved Air Floatation SCADA (Supervisory ternal threats, is water
Project (MSDP), which was (DAF) in the latest refur- “The reduction in Control And Data safety and security a con-
held up since last decade bished WTP at Vehar. Acquisition) system was cern for BMC?
and project has begun. We Robotic machines have
Non-Revenue-Water installed in MCGM in the Dr. Mukherjee: There are
have started work on been used for periodic and 24x7 water year 2001. The ‘flow’ and no known threats to water
Colaba WWTF (37 MLD), reservoir cleaning. supply will make the ‘pressure’ from the source sources of Mumbai. The
Vallabhnagar and Charkop However, from a wider to Water Treatment Plant sources are located in the
pumping stations. CPCB standpoint of adopting best
Mumbai water (WTP) and the Master remote areas amid forest
has now finalized discharge practices, we are the first supply as one of the Balancing Reservoir (MBR) and wildlife sanctuaries.
standards. This year, we organization in country to best water supply to service reservoirs is The transmission system
shall commence works of introduce concept of “Open being monitored 24x7 X is also having provision of
Bhandup, Ghatkopar, Technology Deliverable
systems in the 365 days in control cen- inter-basin transfer with
Versova, Worli, Bandra and Based Contracts”. Here, world.” tres. adequate connectivity and
Dharavi WWTFs. technology is not specified Additional/ replace- as such water security is
In addition to treatment, but deliverables are very ment of flow meters along maintained.
we have also commenced strictly defined. All tech- flow and pressure regulat- with pressure recorders in External threat is
the process of making nologies which are able to ing and measuring devices primary (from source to beyond mortal control,
Mumbai 100% sewered. achieve the same can com- with real-time data trans- water treatment plant) & and wherever possible,
The Mumbai Sewerage pete and selection is by the mission facility at distribu- secondary system (master surveillance and regular
Improvement Program best price criterion. This tion control centres. balancing reservoir to patrolling is in place.
(MSIP) envisages 100% has indeed opened up com- service reservoirs) have However, that should
connectivity in the coming petition greatly and has You have recently men- been identified after gap not make anybody com-
5 years. Works of the same also made the best and tioned about your focus on analysis and tenders have placent. Fresh water is one
have also commenced. proven technologies avail- a “Water Distribution Im- being floated for the same. of our scarcest resources
On the fresh water side, able to us. provement Program”. Why In the tertiary system and one needs to use it
we have finished planning do you think it is so impor- (service reservoirs to con- wisely as they say, save
of the Gargai, Pinjal and Tell us about the current tant to “prevent leakages sumer end), H/W and T water, save life.
Damanganga Pinjal River state of ‘water distribution and water loss”? ward will be covered under
Link Projects. Now we are in network’ in Mumbai. What Dr. Mukherjee: The cur- pilot phase of WDIP and Finally, being the Addi-
the process of seeking vari- are your plans to make it a rent estimated Non- rest of the wards will be tional Municipal Commis-
ous regulatory clearances smart & sustainable 24x7 Revenue-Water (NRW) is covered in phased manner. sioner (Projects) of the
and approvals, and once all water supply network? around 22% and if the net- city, what is your vision
that is received, work shall Dr. Mukherjee: The work is charged for 24x7, Currently, around 1,500 for the city and its water?
start. We have also planned Water Distribution Network the NRW is likely to million litres of waste- Dr. Mukherjee: We are
an underground con- of Mumbai is quite strong increase substantially. water is dumped into the working towards making
veyance system of tunnels hydraulically. Any water Therefore, it is very impor- sea without being treated. the city water reliant and
to replace the age old trunk supply distribution network tant to manage leaks. In the In that light, how impor- surplus. In addition, we are
mains. Some of these is ideally designed for 24- current scenario, locating tant will be the planned trying to augment our
works have commenced hours (peak factor 1) and leaks by conventional Rs. 2,020 crore project for sources in an environment
and some will begin in checked for 8-hours (peak (sounding) method is diffi- city’s largest Sewage friendly matter. In fact, the
2018-19. factor 3). In Mumbai, origi- cult due to various issues Treatment Plant (STP) in 265 MLD water source
nally system was designed like supply times, traffic, Malad? which we have created
What are some the latest for 8-hours supply and in low pressures, deeper The present Malad over the last 2 years can be
technologies which are course of time with mains and parking along WWTF serves a population an example of all ULBs/
being in used in your proj- reduced supply hours, the the side strips of the roads. of over 25 lakh. It is located RLBs in the country. We
ects? distribution system is However, the state-of-the- in CRZ I area and has a are placing great empha-
Dr. Mukherjee: From a strengthened to meet a art Helium method used in small footprint. It has only sis in recycling of water
narrow viewpoint of tech- higher peak (therefore less- WDIP overcomes most of a facility of preliminary and wastewater. On the
nology selection, Tunnel er supply hours). Thus, with these hindrances. treatment, and hence need distribution side, we are
Boring Machines (TBM) for many areas currently hav- Moreover, the flow & pres- to be upgraded to the lat- focussing on equitable dis-
water supply were intro- ing average 2-hours water sure regulating devices in est standards. However, tribution, supply of pure
duced in India by us. The supply (peak factor 12) do the network will prevent though the Hon. High water - free from contami-
5500mm finished diameter not require any major unnecessary pressuriza- Court has given its go nation, and water available
water supply tunnel from strengthening of distribu- tion of the network and ahead for cutting the man- round the clock. So my
Gundavli- Kapurbavdi- tion network when supply thereby will control the groves of the required foot- vision is as follows: Water
Bhandup complex is per- hours are extended to 24x7. quantum of leak. All these print, and the CRZ clear- Security, Water Safety and
haps the largest in world. Leak management will aspects are covered under ance is received, we are Water Conservation.
MCGM has used all the be a crucial issue on con- our “Water Distribution awaiting the forest clear- And I must add that the
available technologies for version to continuous Improvement Program”. ance and the land for reduction in NRW and
water treatment plants like water supply. The pressure replanting the mangroves. 24x7 water supply will
conventional settlers at the and flow data loggers with You recently talked about Once these clearances are make the Mumbai water
old WTP at Bhandup, tubu- real time monitoring will be ‘complete automation’ of received, the work of this supply as one of the best
lar settlers in new WTP at mandatory and the net- water and sewage net- WWTF shall be taken up on water supply systems in
Bhandup, hopper bottom/ work is being equipped with works in the city. What is top priority. the world.
Dow RO Technology Provides Safer Drinking Water Amalgam Biotech Wins Excellence
Award 2017 for Environmentally Sound
at Oman’s Largest Seawater Desalination Plant Management of Toxic Chemicals
EW Staff design, construction, own- SUEZ.
Oman ership, operation and main- A key innovation in the
tenance of the Barka IV RO system is the use of
DOW WATER & Process desalination plant under a innovative DOW FILMTEC™
Solutions, a business unit Build-Own-Operate (BOO) SEAMAXX™ seawater RO
of The Dow Chemical basis. The project is struc- elements. The system
Company, was selected by tured as an Independent design, using nearly 9,000
SUEZ, a Reverse Osmosis Water Project (IWP) with SEAMAXX elements, was
(RO) desalination plant Oman Power and Water selected by SUEZ as the
design, construction and Procurement Co. (OPWP) most efficient solution to
operations leader since purchasing the potable minimize total water cost
1969, to supply its water produced by the proj- for project. The SEAMAXX Ashutosh Vadanagekar (MD) and Anurag Kumar Jha (Business Head)
advanced RO elements to ect under a water purchase elements were launched in Receiving the Award from Environment Activist Dr. Vandana Shiva
desalinate seawater at the agreement with a term of the market in 2014 and it
Barka Desalination Plant - 20 years. features, since then, the Mayur Sharma pollution control and sus-
phase-4 (Barka IWP), locat- SUEZ is leading the highest water permeability New Delhi tainability solution.
ed in Barka in South design, construction and available in seawater RO On behalf of Amalgam
Batinah governorate of operation of the Barka IWP product market. AMALGAM BIOTECH, A Biotech, the award was
Oman. Located in the plant that is scheduled to “Reverse osmosis is the division of Amalgam received by Ashutosh
Middle East, one of the dri- begin commercial opera- most widely used desalina- Engineering, has been hon- Vadanagekar (Managing
est regions in the world, the tion in April 2018. The tion technology, and energy oured with the Aqua Director) and Anurag
new desalination plant has Barka IWP plant will use consumption is a key factor Foundations Excellence Kumar Jha (Business
a capacity to deliver 281 more than 22,000 DOW in operating costs of such Award 2017 under the cate- Head).
million liters of safer drink- FILMTEC™ RO elements. systems,” says Alexander gory of ‘Environmentally Amalgam Biotech
ing water per day, helping “SUEZ is very proud that Lane, Commercial Director Sound Management of received this award
alleviate water scarcity in its consortium was chosen for Europe, Middle East, Toxic Chemicals in the because of its revolutionary
area and positively con- to design, build and operate Africa and India with Dow Industrial Sector’. product “Bacta Cult” - a
tributing to the security of the Barka IWP desalination Water & Process Solutions, The Aqua Excellence bio-culture with superbugs
water supply in country. plant. The advanced “DOW FILMTEC™ SEA- Awards are the highest bacteria to remove water
The Barka IWP Plant will reverse osmosis elements MAXX™ RO elements pro- awards given by Aqua pollution. It is used in the
become the largest seawa- supplied by Dow will con- vide advanced seawater Foundation to its members, industries for Effluent
ter desalination plant in the tribute in a significant man- desalination RO technology stakeholders and contribu- Treatment Plants (ETPs),
Sultanate of Oman and will ner to the performance of and are designed for the tors in the field of water, residential colonies for
also be in the top 10 largest the plant to ensure sustain- lowest energy consumption environment, energy, earth Sewage Treatment Plants
seawater RO desalination able access to water in one available from seawater RO sciences, atmospheric sci- (STPs), polluted lakes and
plants worldwide. of the driest regions in the elements. The technology ences, planetary sciences, in river cleaning.
A consortium formed by world,” said Marie-Ange helps facilities minimize
SUEZ, Engie, ITOCHU Debon, Senior Executive operating costs, reduce to collaborating with SUEZ plant to help increase the
Corporation, and WJ Towell Vice President in charge of capital costs and maximize and integrating this tech- potable water supply in
& Co LLC is in charge of the the international division of efficiency. We look forward nology in the Barka IWP Oman.”
“
EW Staff posals for desalination
Pumps to India
Hyderabad plant. These applicants pos-
sessed suitable land for the
PUB, SINGAPORE’S plant, and demonstrated Desalinated water is a
NATIONAL Water Agency, synergies with co-located key part of Singapore’s
has selected Tuas Power - facilities on Jurong Island. Of
These vertical volute pumps feature Singapore Technologies these, eight bids were sub- water supply portfolio.
Marine Consortium (TP- mitted by three applicants, As a weather-
low energy consumption, achieved STM) as the preferred bidder namely TP-STM, Keppel independent source,it
due to their very high hydraulic for Singapore’s fifth desali- Infrastructure Holdings and
strengthens the
nation plant, to be located Sembcorp Utilities - SUEZ
efficiency of up to 90%. on Jurong Island. As pre- International Consortium. At reliability of our water
ferred bidder, TP-STM will a first-year price of USD 0.91 supply against
Megha Engineering & form a concession company per cubic metre, TP-STM
Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL), to enter into a Water offered the most competi- droughts.This fifth
Hyderabad, India, to equip Purchase Agreement (WPA) tive tariff among three bid- plant is part of our plans
three pumping stations with with PUB. The WPA will take ders. It will supply desalinat- to expand desalination
a total of 27 vertical volute full effect once all agree- ed water to PUB over a 25-
pumps near village of ments have been finalized year period from 2020 to capacity to meet up to
Kaleshwaram in Telangana and executed, and conces- 2045. 30% of our future water
state. The order value is sion company achieves The desalination plant on needs in the long term.
more than 60 million euros. financial close. Jurong Island is PUB’s sev-
Start-up is scheduled for The desalination plant on enth Design-Build-Own- Young Joo Chye
June 2018. Jurong Island is expected to Operate project between Director of Engineering
One pumping station commence operations in PUB and the private sector. Development and
conveys 660 cubic meters 2020 and will add 30 million The first six are the 30 MGD Procurement, PUB Singapore
of water per second from gallons (MGD) or approxi- SingSpring Desalination
the Pranahita River and then mately 137,000 cubic metres Plant, the 32 MGD Keppel-
through other pumping sta- of water per day to nation’s Seghers Ulu Pandan strategy to ensure a robust
tions into a reservoir. This water supply. The seawater NEWater Plant, the 50 MGD and sustainable supply of
reservoir will ensure a sus- reverse-osmosis desalina- SembCorp NEWater Plant, water for Singapore. The
tainable supply of water for tion plant will be co-located the 70 MGD TuaSpring other three sources are
agricultural irrigation in the with Tuas Power’s existing Desalination Plant, the 50 water from local catch-
cities Karimnagar, Medak, Tembusu Multi-Utilities MGD BEWG-UESH NEWater ments, imported water from
Nizamabad, Nalgonda, and Complex to derive synergies Plant and more recently, the Johor and NEWater.
in the Ranga Reddy district. in resources such as seawa- 30 MGD Keppel Marina East Desalination currently meets
EW Staff ANDRITZ’s vertical ter intake and outfall struc- Desalination Plant which is up to 25% of Singapore’s
Hyderabad volute pumps feature low tures, and energy from the currently under construc- water demand. The third
energy consumption, in-plant generation facilities. tion. desalination plant is expect-
INTERNATIONAL TECH- achieved due to their very In February 2017, four pre- Desalinated water is one ed to be completed in Tuas
NOLOGY GROUP ANDRITZ high hydraulic efficiency of qualified applicants were of PUB’s Four National Taps, by 2017, and the fourth in
has received an order from up to 90 percent. invited to submit their pro- a long term water supply Marina East by 2020.
International Water
Association (IWA) Endress+Hauser
ENDRESS+HAUSER, the
Switzerland-based instru-
mentation and process
automation company has
announced the appoint-
ment of KAILASH DESAI
as its new Chief Operating
Officer for India. He has
been promoted to this
position and will take
Dr. Stephan Bross charge of the India busi- Kailash Desai
Frankenthal based pumps ness. In his stint with
and valves manufacturer Endress+Hauser since ed his studies with a years. Later in October
Kala Vairavamoorthy has appointed the 2003, he worked in vari- Bachelor of Engineering 2008, he was transferred
Hamburg-born engineer to ous management roles (Instrumentation) and to Endress+Hauser (I) Pvt.
Internationally recognized Board of Management, focusing on marketing received a post graduate Ltd. and was based out of
water resource manage- which now has four mem- and sales, while also gain- degree in Marketing Mumbai as Head of
ment expert, KALA bers. He will be responsible ing experience in human Management. Having Projects and then was
VAIRAVAMOORTHY, has for Technology. After com- resources and the projects gained experience at smoved to the senior level
been appointed Executive pleting his doctorate in business. Following an Pepperl+Fuchs and as Vice President-
Director of International mechanical engineering, assessment of more than Emerson Process Marketing until July 2014.
Water Association (IWA). Stephan Bross joined KSB 100 applicants for the job Management in India, he Vivian Alfred, VP,
He will be based in the IWA’s in 1993, where he held posi- (including both internal then joined Endress+ Human Resources says,
Global Operations Office in tions in Research, Design, and external applicants) Hauser based at “This internal succession
The Hague, Netherlands. Engineering, Development Kailash Desai, Sr. Vice Aurangabad as Marketing plan clearly elucidates the
Vairavamoorthy has a par- and Product Management. President-Sales was final- Director-Southeast Asia in top management’s com-
ticular interest in urban ly selected and appointed October 2003, where he mitment on engaging,
water issues, combining a Xylem Inc. by the Endress+Hauser was in-charge of product developing and growing
strong engineering back- Group Executive Board. marketing for India and key potential talent within
ground with practical inter- Kailash Desai complet- Southeast Asia for five the organization pipeline.”
national experience. He has
a strong international pro-
and opportunities during
file working closely with the
World Bank, African
EXPRESS WATER India (Delhi and
Chandigarh). Our existing 2017-18?
Development Bank, UN- EXCLUSIVE work experience in water Mr. Desai: It has been two
Habitat, Global Water and energy management decades that we are pres-
Partnership and European Express Water: What are will allow us to work seam- ent in the India market, the
Union. Vairavamoorthy is your short-term and long- lessly with civic bodies to scale of activity has
joining IWA from Colin Sabol term goals for Endress+ make Smart City projects increased dramatically
International Water Xylem Inc has named Hauser India, as its new more efficient. We are also and it was clear to the
Management Institute COLIN SABOL as Xylem COO? tapping other key-sectors quality pundits that
(IWMI), where he was Senior Vice President and Mr. Desai: We will be cali- like F&B, Pharma, and Oil automation is a far better
Deputy Director General for President of Sensus & brating a new technology & Gas to name a few. We choice in terms of quality,
Research. Prior to IWMI, Analytics. He succeeds at the plant under which already have around 6,000 productivity, efficiency
Vairavamoorthy was the Randy Bays, who will move new products related to patents and shall get few and standardization.
Founding Dean of Patel into an advisory role with a Flow, Level, Pressure and more added to the list as Endress+Hauser is looking
College of Global focus on Xylem’s global Temperature products will we strongly believe in pro- to double its India revenue
Sustainability, and a manufacturing operations. be introduced to mitigate viding innovative product to Rs. 800 crore by 2021,
tenured Professor in Both will report to Xylem the requirements across line to Indian market which through Smart Cities relat-
Department of Civil and President and CEO, Patrick India. This will eventually is the key differentiator in ed work. The government
Environmental Engineering Decker. lead to increase in capaci- our line of services. is upgrading cities for
at University of South Mr. Sabol is Chairman of ties of the plant in Endress+ Hauser in the which they require world
Florida. Xylem Watermark, the com- Aurangabad as well as our year 2015 alone got 270 class automation systems
pany’s corporate citizen- increased presence in all new patent applications that can be easily integrat-
ship and social investment the sales offices across which in itself is a new ed with the existing tech-
KSB program. As previously the length and breadth of record - our own patent nology format. We are con-
Aktiengesellschaft announced, Xylem has the country. Our focus department in the USA stantly moving towards
combined its Sensus and market expansions will be protects new technologies the direction of ‘innova-
DR. STEPHAN BROSS has Analytics businesses and in the North Eastern abroad. tion’ and believe in deliver-
joined the board of man- now reports the financial region of India, South India ing the best as per the
agement of KSB and operational results (Bangalore and Express Water: What will demands of the Indian
Aktiengesellschaft. The from these businesses as Hyderabad) and North be your biggest challenge market.
supervisory board of one segment.
WATER LEADERS
Leaders from water community share their thoughts on the challenges water
sector is facing and chalk out their roadmap for all the stakeholders.
TO SAY THAT there is a water stress and most of year of failed monsoon and ine the situation, create a bodies and drying rivers
water crisis in the world our water bodies are either the whole landscape was holistic scientific plan and across India. Thirty-three
today is to grossly under- drying up or are grossly parched. Everywhere in the then undertake immediate rivers in Karnataka,
state a looming global polluted. Add to it, the crisis city, one could witness action. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu
catastrophe. Earlier, the of depleting groundwater. water tankers sent in by the Working day and night, and Kerala are being rejuve-
world used to discuss the More than half of India's state government and vari- the diverse group of volun- nated with support from
global water crisis in terms groundwater wells are dry- ous civil society organiza- teers accomplished the scientists, civil society, cor-
of access to drinking water. ing up while over 60 per- tions. Special trains were task, which would have nor- porates and the govern-
Today, it’s no more about cent of irrigated agriculture made to run to bring in mally taken over nine ment.
just drinking water. With and 85 percent of domestic water from as far as months, in just three These efforts have start-
drought in water-rich coun- use are dependent on it. Rajasthan. Fearing vio- months. Thanks to the proj- ed showing highly encour-
tries, water rationing in Also, India’s groundwater is lence, the district adminis- ect, the area received aging results. Communities
developed cities, flooding in being progressively con- tration of Latur district record rainfall and there in these regions have wit-
unlikely places and fre- taminated owing to a lack imposed prohibitory orders was water in the River nessed significant improve-
quent hurricanes, the glob- of proper waste treatment on gatherings of more than Manjara after five long ments in groundwater lev-
al water crisis is no more system and rising use of five people around storage years. Today, even fish have els. Wells, which were dry
confined to just scarcity. hazardous pesticides and tanks. returned to the once dry for many years, are now
The situation isn’t any fertilizers. It was then our volun- river. With support from filled with water, and farm-
better in India. A growing The good news is that teers decided to initiate the community, donors and the ers who were facing low
population, rapid urbaniza- practical and effective ways project of reviving the local government a forest yields and contemplating
tion and industrialization, of solving the huge problem Manjara river. The volun- of native trees such as suicides are now more con-
with mismanagement of plaguing the country aren’t teers, through their hard Banyan, Peepal, Neem, fident of a better life with
resources and a lifestyle very hard to find. We just to work and collaborative Mango, Jamun and rising income levels. In
that requires significantly need to look at the problem efforts, brought together Jackfruit is being created some areas womenfolk no
more water are leading the in a holistic way. In the local villagers, civil soci- along the banks of the river. longer have to walk long
country towards a water summer of 2016, I visited eties, local government, Since 2013, The Art of distances to fetch potable
disaster. Over 54 percent of Latur in Maharashtra. It corporate agencies and Living is actively engaged in water.
the country is under high was the fourth consecutive technical experts to exam- reviving thousands of water Systematic and scientif-
River Terna in Maharashtra, Once Parched and Dry, Successfully Rejuvenated by the Art of Living
Dr. Lingaraju, National Director of Art of Living's River Rejuvenation Projects Educating Local Villagers About River Rejuvenation
ic plans were drawn up to water element. Water is drought would act as the tages is that sewage, indus- While it is beneficial to
rejuvenate the rivers. Our present everywhere. You source of drinking water. trial waste and other pollu- plant trees in the catch-
strategic multi-dimensional find it when you dig deep This whole system was tants dumped in one river ment of the rivers, the right
approach includes building into the earth and also as developed by the local can travel to all the other and water-friendly plants
recharge structures, under- clouds up in the sky. It is rulers, and was owned and rivers as well. So before link- need to be chosen. Else it
taking extensive afforesta- also present in the atmos- maintained by the local ing rivers, water should be could backfire as it hap-
tion focusing on native phere as vapour. We cannot communities. tested for pollution and care pened with the case of
species, and training the imagine a world bereft of Today, this feeling of should be taken that no massive acacia plantation
local farmers on sustain- water. There is a saying in ownership of natural waste is dumped and no across India. Though aca-
able agriculture. A team of Sanskrit - “For people, resources has ceased to drainage is let into these cia, which is not a tree of
geologists, hydro-geolo- water is God and there is no exist. We need to restore rivers. this land, grows fast and
gists, environmentalists, divinity without water”. It is this sense of belongingness Over the last few years gives quick green cover, the
remote sensing experts imperative that we protect with nature. It is important the central government has tree absorbs a lot of water.
and agriculturists is work- and maintain natural to make sure that our rivers also laid special emphasis Soon after planting these
ing alongside community sources of water such as are kept clean. We must on natural resource man- trees, it was found that the
leaders from rural parts to ponds, lakes and rivers. refrain from throwing agement under MGNREGA. groundwater was getting
make clean water available In ancient civilizations things into the river in the The Prime Minister himself depleted.
and make the rivers across the world, it has name of religion. We must has been driving the What we need is a nation-
perennial. been a tradition to maintain avoid all rituals that pollute Namami Gange project to al water management agen-
Local communities are and revere water bodies, our environment. revive the river Ganges. da that is scientific and
getting increasingly aware especially in this country. We need to make conser- However, projects like the holistic in its outlook. Civil
of this challenge and adopt- Earlier, a king's greatness vation of nature a national Namami Gange or commu- society, corporates, scien-
ing ways to wisely use was often measured in movement and revival of nity driven schemes like tists, academicians, artists,
water and undertake water- terms of the number of rivers to become a national MGNREGA will be success- students, farmers, NGOs
efficient farming practices. ponds he built. Till the priority. It’s heartening that ful only if other stakehold- and each and every one us
Energizing, empowering recent past, India had elab- the government is undertak- ers join in. In Karnataka and will have to become a part of
programs to build youth orate systems to manage ing many efforts and devis- Tamil Nadu we have suc- the agenda. The biggest pol-
and community leadership its water resources. In ing new policies to revive the cessfully supported the lutant in the environment is
stand at the core of these South India, every village rivers. One of these plans government in community man's greed. The feverish-
efforts and is one of the would have an intercon- includes interlinking the building and such projects ness for petty gains blinds
keys to the amazing results nected series of irrigation rivers across the country. have provided employment us to the reality that this
we are witnessing at the tanks that would store While there are many advan- to over 30,000 people. whole earth is one organism
grassroots. water and recharge the tages of interlinking rivers, Similarly, many state and the rivers are its life-
Water is the very basis of water table. Each temple such as better management governments are working lines. Our lives can only
life. Nearly, 70% of our would inevitably have a of river waters and avoiding to undertake extensive flourish when these lifelines
body is made up of the pond, which in times of floods, one of the disadvan- afforestation initiatives. are healthy.
Evolving Purposes of
Hydraulic Modeling in
the Water Sector in India
By
PERRINE PARROD
SENIOR PRODUCT
MARKETING MANAGER,
BENTLEYSYSTEMS
The key
challenge is to
supply enough
clean water to
the ever-growing
population in a
reliable and
continuous way.
This can only be
delivered with
adequate water
infrastructure
that is reliable,
efficient, and
sustainable.
INDIA IS NOT running out nodes for 1,00,000 people Patterned after Dubai’s
of water - the key challenge each, Navi Mumbai was Media City and Qatar’s
is to supply enough clean hailed as a model planned Energy City, the INR 15 bil-
water to the ever-growing city. lion mixed-used develop-
population in a reliable and However, rapid migra- ment called Mega City in
continuous way. Although tion and unsustainable Panvel, will create a sus-
there has been a 24 percent population growth led to tainable satellite township
increase in improved water deteriorating public servic- on 1,400 acres.
source, or the percentage es and infrastructure in the Frischmann Prabhu was
of a population with water 344-square-kilometer area. retained to plan and design
access, since the 1990s, NMMC undertook a USD the water supply system to
this data does not test 411 million planning initia- serve a population of about
whether the water is safe tive to improve and aug- 450,000. WaterGEMS was
[source: WHO/UNICEF ment the city infrastructure used to perform hydraulic
Joint Monitoring and provide a sustainable modeling of scenarios
Programme (JMP) for environment for its 2.8 mil- involving various system
Water Supply and lion citizens. The integrated constraints and to deter-
Sanitation]. This can only approach included a devel- mine pipe diameters for dif-
be delivered with adequate opment plan with opti- ferent pump hours and
water infrastructure that is mized lifecycle costs. water tank levels.
reliable, efficient, and sus- Bentley software products The water supply
tainable. enabled planning for trans- scheme sources water
portation, water supply, from a government authori-
Existing Urban Areas: Un- NJS Project: Location of Mains to Rehabilitate sewerage, solid waste man- ty pipeline, transports the
reliable Water Supply agement, and stormwater water to a master balance
Intermittent water sys- uous supply of treated comprising a five-year system improvements: reservoir, and pumps the
tems often lead to health water. Undertaken by NJS design and execution phase • The base map with water to three elevated
issues, because during Engineers for Uttar and a 25-year operation existing assets and ground service reservoirs
non-supply hours, dirty Pradesh Jal Nigam, the and maintenance phase. utilities was prepared at different elevations and
water can enter the empty project includes construc- Carried out by Orange City in MicroStation. distances from the master
pipes, highly increasing the tion of a 144 million-liter- Water India, the INR 3.7 bil- • WaterGEMS, HAM- balance reservoir.
risk of contracting diseases per-day water treatment lion project had to contend MER, and SewerCAD As land is acquired for
from contaminated water. plant, sedimentation tank, with the limited capacity in were used for project the development of Navi
Many organizations are and 130-kilometer trans- the available elevated stor- design and estimation. Mumbai International
using hydraulic modeling to mission pipeline. age tanks. WaterGEMS was Overall, this integrated Airport in Maharashtra,
transform intermittent sys- Rehabilitation and repair of integrated with AutoCAD approach resulted in effi- landowners are being
tems into continuous sys- two water treatment plants, and ArcGIS to provide up- cient planning and execu- offered developed parcels
tems. In the state of overhead tanks, clear water to-date data for citywide tion of the project, and the on a 224-hectare section
Maharashtra, Maharashtra reservoirs, and distribution hydraulic modeling. The results were visible in adjacent to National
Jeevan Pradhikaran used networks were also Bentley software allowed
Bentley’s WaterGEMS soft- planned. WaterGEMS was the team to analyze various
ware to improve various used to develop a hydraulic scenarios, including phas-
water systems across the model for existing, interme- ing in intermediate goals
state, transforming them to diate, and future water sup- for equitable supply until
24x7 systems. Using ply zones. The model was continuous water supply
WaterGEMS, the engineers used to evaluate network can be achieved.
evaluated the existing flow, capacity, and pres-
water system, which sure; plan system rehabili- New Urban Areas: Fast
enabled them to under- tation, improvement, and Growing Population
stand the current water expansion; monitor non- With urbanization hap-
network behaviour and revenue water; and develop pening at a fast rate in
assess its response to pro- efficient operational strate- India, jumping 2.63 percent
posed changes, from pipe gies. from 2001 to 2011, accord-
replacement and water sys- Nagpur Municipal ing to India’s census, ade-
tem expansion to opera- Corporation in quate water infrastructure
tional aspects such as Maharashtra provides must keep up with the new
water loss and energy intermittent water supply development. Frischmann Prabhu Project: Pushpak Model Overview
usage reductions. service to 3,50,000 houses Navi Mumbai Municipal
The city of Agra in Uttar via about 3,500 kilometers Corporation (NMMC) faced increased tax revenue, Highway 4-B. City and
Pradesh had an intermit- of pipeline, five treatment an ongoing challenge in ful- reduction in operation and Industrial Development
tent water supply, with plants, and 68 elevated filling the vision for a twin maintenance costs for the Corporation (CIDCO)
pumping stations operat- storage tanks. To reach the city intended to alleviate utilities, better transport designed the INR 120 mil-
ing a few hours, twice a day. goal of 24x7 water supply, congestion in Mumbai. planning, reduced non-rev- lion water supply network
The Agra Water Supply the municipality embarked Developed in the 1970s enue water, and improved for the area, which is part of
Project will deliver a contin- on a public-private project with 20 self-contained citizen satisfaction. the Pushpak Node.
Selecting the correct through the National Rural Telangana Rural Water ed the project under a this project, which called
pipeline diameter will help Drinking Water Programme Supply and Sanitation is Government of Tamil Nadu for a water supply network
to prevent network head (NRDWP). Its Strategic responsible for conceptual- mandate to provide water that covers a 100-kilometer
loss under various operat- Plan for Rural Drinking ization, design, construc- supply and sewerage facili- area. WaterGEMS not only
ing conditions. CIDCO gen- Water, 2011-2022, helps tion, and maintenance of ties in the state. helped ensure the accuracy
erated scenarios in operationalize the NRDWP, the entire network. TWAD Board used of the design but also saved
WaterGEMS, which helped striving to provide 90 per- WaterGEMS helped the WaterGEMS extensively up to 100 resource hours in
the team to plan the net- cent of rural homes with company design the net- during the design phase of design time.
work in less time. piped water and 80 percent work quickly, shortening
Upon completion in with household taps by the time leading up to con-
2019, the Pushpak Node 2022. Consequently, it is struction. Bentley software
will be an affordable resi- not surprising that many helped the project team
dential hub in a desirable projects are erecting a nec- evaluate various scenarios
location near the airport. essary water infrastructure and choose the optimum
to improve rural life. design. The models also
Rural Areas: Lack of Ac- An example of similar reduced the time required
cess to Potable Water project is the Medchal for approvals by the
Despite India’s fast Distribution Network proj- Government of Telangana.
urbanization, 67 percent of ect that will provide safe Fifteen villages in
the population lives rurally drinking water for 104 vil- Sivaganga District will have
and only 16 percent of lages in Medchal, a north- a safe supply of drinking
households have piped ern suburb of Hyderabad, water for the first time
water. Telangana. when construction of the
The Government of The water distribution INR 2 billion water supply
India’s Department of network which is being con- network is complete.
Drinking Water and structed will comprise 264 Tamil Nadu Water
Sanitation has started to kilometers of pipeline and Supply and Drainage Board
meet this challenge three break pressure tanks. (TWAD Board) implement- TWAD Project: Model of the Sivaganga District Water Network
Need to Unlock
Wastewater’s PotentialBy
RAJIVMENON
MANAGING DIRECTOR,
BLACK & VEATCH INDIA
The world over,
water and
wastewater have
historically been
treated - literally
and conceptually
- separately.
India is no
exception.We
need to take the
waste out of
wastewater, in
every sense, and
recognize
wastewater for
the resource it is.
INDIA'S ALL WATER for the resource it is. recycled water for potable nexus of water and energy, smart technology. The CHP
RESOURCES are under With advanced treat- applications; using treated and another reason to stop component of our
pressure. Urbanization, ment, wastewater becomes wastewater for non-potable viewing wastewater as ASSET360 data analytics
changing rainfall patterns a source of water for applications is a good way waste, but instead as a tool extracts and displays
and increased affluence – potable and non-potable of introducing the concept resource. Wastewater is an important system perform-
water use rises with wealth use. Wastewater recycling of reuse. abundant source of energy. ance information and
– are all affecting the bal- is being adopted in areas The government is cur- Advanced digestion of directs action to help oper-
ance between supply and traditionally seen as water rently seeking to stimulate sewage increases the ators make timely and
demand. Recent media scarce: Australia, the this by creating a market amount of bio gas pro- accurate decisions about
reports suggest that an Southwestern United for treated wastewater. duced as a by-product of their CHP systems.
investment of USD 291 bil- States; and also in less Developments include a the treatment process. The This type of technology
lion is needed to ensure obvious countries such as memorandum of under- biogas can be used as fuel allows, for instance, the
supplies. the UK and Singapore. standing with the Ministry for combined heat and creation of automatic and
There is no silver bullet Although it has abundant of Railways to adopt reused power engines (CHP) - the custom user-defined
to fix this. Anyone propos- rainfall, Singapore has a water for cleaning rolling energy from which can be charts to give instant
ing simplistic answers has small landmass compared stock and other non- used in the treatment access to real-time and his-
not understood the com- to its population. This potable uses. In addition, it process or exported to local torical performance. Such
plexity of the problem. affects the ability to is now mandatory for power grids. At a time when tools also convey system
There is, however, an over- impound surface water, so power plants to buy treated the government is keen to economics relative to finan-
arching change which – if water recycling provides an wastewater from sewage cut pollution from thermal cial goals, and allow users
adopted – will help us take effective buffer for tradi- treatment plants, where the power stations, and to visualize real-time per-
some significant steps for- tional supplies. The island two plants are within a 50- improve energy security by formance of the digestion
ward. state is leading the way in kilometre radius of each reducing oil imports, we process relative to energy
The world over, water water recycling strategy other. This is significant welcome the generation of production.
and wastewater have his- and technology. The when we consider that, typ- energy from biogas as a Smart analytics also
torically been treated – lit- NEWater programme cur- ically, 2,650 litres of water component of many new help operators better man-
erally and conceptually – rently meets circa 30 per- per MegaWatt hours wastewater treatment proj- age challenges. The impact
separately. India is no cent of Singapore's water (MWh) are needed for coal ects under construction or of potential problems can
exception. This needs to needs, this is set to rise to fired generation; and that being tendered in India. be calculated, allowing pri-
change. We need to take 40 percent by 2020. coal accounts for more Performance of the lat- orities to be established
the waste out of waste- With reservations, than 75 percent of India's est generation of CHP sys- and a hierarchy of interven-
water – in every sense – understandable but over- energy mix. tems is being enhanced tions identified. This facili-
and recognize wastewater stated, regarding the use of This brings us to the significantly with the use of tates transparent discus-
maintenance to be under-
taken - at a time which min-
imizes services disruption.
A tool to analyse multiple
data points from waste-
water pumping stations is
able to accurately predict
the risk of pollution inci-
dents. This use of smart
technology is at the heart
of risk-based asset man-
agement programmes; and
central to evidence based
decisions for future invest-
ment plans.
Smart technology also
has a role in preserving
strained water resources.
Currently 40-50 percent of
the water entering India’s
distribution networks is
lost. This is due largely to
leakage and illegal connec-
Recycling Turns Sewage from Waste to Water Resource tions. As well as wasting a
precious resource these
sion between engineering, pollutants, and increasing see this being realized by most importantly - better losses are also non-revenue
operations, and mainte- the amount of water avail- government in the form of data analysis, provide the water, for which the utility is
nance staff, and enables able for abstraction, a prob- initiatives such as Namami insights to ensure that unable to recover the costs
action planning. lem common to many Gange which - as we have plant is operating at opti- of treatment and supply.
Environmental protec- perennial rivers in India. seen recently in successful mum efficiency. For exam- Smart metering is a high-
tion is another area in This is vital when so many bids for wastewater treat- ple our data analytics tools ly successfully way of identi-
which wastewater should surface water bodies expe- ment projects in Varanasi allow asset performance fying accurately how much
be seen as a resource. rience periods when there and Haridwar - is encourag- data to be combined with water is being lost, where
Treating wastewater to sec- is insufficient volume to ing innovative hybrid public external data such as ener- leaks are occurring, and the
ondary standards prior to meet the needs of commu- -private partnership ten- gy tariff information, to location of unauthorized
discharge to the environ- nities, agriculture and ders. identify the lowest cost of connections to the distribu-
ment has multiple benefits. industry. Smart tools to gather operation. tion network. This informa-
In the first instance, such With additional steps, and analyse data from In addition, the tool is tion helps preserve a
treatment prevents pollu- the secondary wastewater treatment plant will help able to predict failure, by stressed natural resource
tants entering water bodies. treatment can also unlock ensure our investments are identifying an underper- and increase the income
According to the Union wastewater’s potential as a targeted efficiently. More forming pump, for example, available to invest in water
Water Resources Ministry, nutrient source, in particu- data, better data and - enabling the preventative infrastructure.
70-75 percent of the pollu- lar phosphates, for use in
tion in Ganga is due to fertilizer. This gives farmers
municipal sewage, with the a renewable alternative to
rest coming from domestic untreated sewage fertilizer
refuse, industrial effluent which, during heavy rain,
and other sources. will pollute run-off flowing
Secondary treatment will into water bodies. High
prevent municipal sewage, concentrations of any fertil-
and many types of industrial izer in run-off can affect
effluent, from adversely water quality; but the point
affecting the rivers, lakes or here is that we need to
steams into which treat- think of wastewater treat-
ment works discharge, ment works as resource
thereby also preserving the recovery plants, not cen-
aquatic life/ natural her- tres for waste disposal. This
itage including the unique is where the challenge
dolphins of Ganga. becomes opportunity.
By returning processed While these sorts of proj-
water to the environment, ects and programmes are
wastewater treatment also not cheap, they represent a
increases flows in the water great return on investment
body, thereby reducing the for communities, industry
concentration of existing and the environment. We Smart Metering Shows Where and When a Network is Losing Water
Revival of CommunityWater
Bodies for Sustained Future
By INDIA, WITH ITS 17 per- such intervention is an irri- basins rather than tanks,
cent of global population gation tank. A tank is a sim- which too often connote
M.P.VASIMALAI and with only 4 percent of ple earthen banked rainwa- only the direct surface irri-
fresh water resources is ter harvesting and storage gation aspects of these
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, waging a fierce battle on structure, designed by the systems.”
meeting continuously early settlers using their Even now, the tanks in
DHAN FOUNDATION increasing water demand indigenous wisdom and South India and Ahar-Pyne
with available water supply. constructed with the gen- System in Magadh region
The importance of water erous support of native have very high relevance in
conservation by every citi- rulers and chieftains. The practicing the Integrated
zen and the State is very topography of Deccan Water Resources
vital as of now, the effects Plateau provided a good Management (IWRM). As
of climate change, poor base for locating these per minor irrigation census
governance, lack of com- innovative water bodies. (1994), there exist
munity ownership and par- Irrigation tanks are simple 5,00,000 irrigation tanks in
ticipation, either limited or technological innovations the country; of which
no plans on river basin spe- developed by those people 1,50,000 tanks are located
cific, the “bottom-up to accommodate their pri- in the Deccan Plateau cov-
approach” make the mary needs and adapted to ered by South Indian
demand on water a finite the distinctive Indian cli- States. Similarly, there are
source more challenging. It mate – intense monsoons over 20,000 Ahar-Pyne
is also vivid from followed by protracted System linking rivers in
Sustainable Development droughts. South Bihar and parts of
Goal 6 which relates water “Tanks need to be Jharkhand in Ganga Basin.
and improved sanitation, thought of in terms of a These irrigation tanks are
reducing water pollution, wide complex of natural situated in sequential
improving water demand resources, physical facili- chains (cascades) with the
management and making ties, land use patterns and slope mildly dipping
sustained water use. From managerial institutions. towards the Southern
grassroots’ experience The tank is not simply an coastal plains in the
over the two and half irrigation system that Deccan Plateau. As a
decade working on improv- starts from the reservoir result, the rainfall runoff
ing livelihoods of small and down. It is also a collection flowing from a sub basin
In many ways, tanks are very similar marginal farmers, women point for run-off from the and/ or watershed is effec-
and landless across 20 catchment area, pond for tively impounded and har-
to endangered species.The river basins in six states in pisciculture, source of silt nessed for multiple uses
conditions are deteriorating year by India, the insights and
learning on water com-
for fertilization and con-
struction material, a
with irrigation being the
major user.
year, because of many factors and mons, the readers would recharge structure for local
get benefitted more. groundwater, a location for Conserve Tanks for Future
reasons. cultivation on common Humanity
Tank is a Micro-Basin lands, a source of drinking In many ways, tanks are
India has many histori- water for livestock, and very similar to endangered
cal evidences on irrigation finally, an irrigation system species. The conditions are
structures, systems and for crops. To help keep in deteriorating year by year,
management, almost from mind this multiplicity of because of many factors
8th century AD onwards. uses which spans the and reasons. The decline of
They captured India’s long administrative ambit of tank irrigation since 1960s
history of human interven- several government from 35% of Net Irrigated
tions in the management of departments, it is useful to Area to 20% of Net
village water bodies. One think of tank complexes as Irrigated Area, decline of
Ahar-Pyne system led to rare event in the village Tank Development and affected by fluoride ing concept of ecological
reduction of Net Irrigated tanks. Ahar-Pyne Development endemicity (Geological restoration of rivers and
Area over 20% and eco- Due to the as a Unique Mission Survey of India). The water basins in a decade’s
nomical assessment of Tractorization in the vil- Around 20% of the area ground water salinity is of time frame would see vital
erstwhile planning com- lages, the bullocks and under irrigation in south two types - coastal salinity and resilient communities
mission about INR 500 carts have also vanished India depends on tanks due to sea water ingress in in bio-diverse, well-func-
Million revenue loss in lieu from the scene, which ulti- directly. Ahar-Pynes in coastal area and Inland tioning eco-systems pro-
of decline of area under mately led to total stop- Magadh region also func- salinity due to processes viding health livelihoods for
production in tank com- page of desilting by the tion similar as that of tanks other than the sea water all living beings. To make
mand showed the structur- farmers. The silt applica- in South India. Also, the ingress. The occurrence of Green river in to reality, few
al deficiencies and indiffer- tion at the moment has most part of well irrigation inland salinity may be due given pathways could be
ent maintenance by all con- become another commer- depend upon the tanks as to over-exploitation of highly important and rele-
cerned. cial - paid up input by a important source of their ground water, characteris- vant for action.
One could notice under farmer undertaken recharge. The surface tics of aquifer or some • An integrated tank devel-
the present policy of the through tractor operators. water bodies like tanks other reasons. opment approach includ-
government, some thrust The volume of desilting become a must to the sur- In the rural parts of ing revival surface water
is being given to conserva- should be the volume of vival and very existence of coastal districts drinking ponds in their vicinity
tion of irrigation tanks/ additional storage required these wells in the tank sys- water ponds, termed locally towards developing tank-
Ahar-Pyne systems and for to provide for two or three tems of the South Indian as “ooranis” still continued fed agriculture and compli-
their sustainable use. From additional irrigations for plateau regions which is to be the primary and pre- menting clean drinking
introduction of Mahatma the entire crop area and to endowed with hard rock ferred source of drinking water in a given area will be
Gandhi National Rural strength the tank bund to geological formations. It is and domestic water needs, more beneficial than a
Employment Generation the prescribed design proved beyond doubt that since these areas have no compartmental approach.
Act, the asset building in standard. Top soil with the ground water in hard rivers to supply drinking This approach would mean
rural area by implementing nutrient content should be rock areas is scarce, pre- water. Also, the ground that tanks are considered
deepening works in rural allowed for farmers to take cious and costly and will be water is saline. as resource complexes
area on water bodies and apply in their farm extinct soon unless it is Traditionally, the Village which have feeder chan-
including tanks,” Mission without hurdles. Desilting recharged through the sur- Assemblies built the oora- nels from their catch-
Kakhatiya” of Telangana should be planned with face water bodies such as nis, for many decades, oora- ments, tank structures
G o v e r n m e n t ,” K u d i through the local farmers’ tanks. A comprehensive nis have been neglected and such as bunds, sluices &
Maramathu scheme” in association and gram pan- and a time bound plan for now they are in disrepair. weirs and surplus courses
Tamil Nadu State, World chayat and implemented the development of tanks But the water supply sys- draining excess water to
Bank aided Community through them only as a therefore becomes an tems (over-head tanks and the downstream tanks and
Tank Improvement Demand Driven Program. imminent and immediate hand pumps) provided by tank command areas. All
Projects in Southern states task considering the the Government agencies in these components should
of India brings out the good Conserve Tank Systems as decline of tank systems in these areas are not suc- be treated equally for any
policy climate; but the pro- Living Heritage most parts of south Indian cessful. Although the pro- development on tank com-
grammes and schemes fail We consider that the peninsula. fessionals and Govt. agen- plexes.
miserably in implementa- neglect of tanks will cies have not accepted • Also, developing/ reha-
tion mainly because of become a source of depri- Revive Drinking Water ooranis as a safe source bilitating a chain (cascade)
absence of community vation of all those benefits Ponds in the Coastal and with respect to the general of tanks give higher bene-
ownership and institutional accrued by the tanks quite Ground Water Contami- health standards, people fits and returns than reha-
mechanisms, missing part- soon. nated Area consider them the best bilitating an individual or
nership with the non gov- Sooner or later, the vil- In India, most of the available source and they isolated tank. This cascade
ernmental organizations in lage communities have to drinking water pro- have built immunity by approach becomes hydro-
the programmes. address these issues also. grammes are Ground water drinking the water from logically more productive
Historically, desilting of They will affect not only based as all we know. Oorani. Domestic water by means of retaining and
the tank bed has been an the irrigation use but the Fluoride and Arsenic are supply from the rehabilitat- saving more water, eco-
activity undertaken by the entire ecosystem and the two main contaminants ed ooranis outscores the nomically more beneficial
farmers for development agri-biodiversity as well. in groundwater present other sources in taste, by providing higher eco-
of agricultural lands The cost of redeeming naturally in India, causing a access, adequacy, availabili- nomical returns through
because of the nutritive such a situation will be set of health symptoms ty and convenience. In order improved production and
value of silt. Apart from the great. In many ways, tanks known commonly as to ensure clean drinking sociological benefits by
others, the village commu- are in such a situation Fluorosis and Arsenicosis water, the rehabilitation of providing an opportunity
nities have been using tank which is very similar to the respectively. More than 62 drinking water/ domestic to several farmers’ associ-
silt for brick making and endangered species of million people spread over ooranis with the provision of ations to come together in
house construction also. and animals and birds. So, the 16 states of India, filtering mechanism is taken a given administrative
With the advent of the to conserve these pre- namely Jammu & Kashmir, up with peoples' participa- location for their manage-
modern chemical fertiliz- cious water bodies as a Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, tion would provide water ment.
ers, because of their easy national heritage and Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, security for meeting drink- • Renovate drinking water
availability and immediate declare them as living Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, ing and domestic needs. ponds with fence around
effect on the crops, farm- eco-system, a long-term Maharashtra, Karnataka, by involving community in
ers have given up the sustainable mission Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Time for Taking up Promis- the groundwater scarce
desilting activity. Presently should get launched by Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Bihar, ing Approaches area and saline aquifer
desilting has become a the state. Jharkhand and Assam are “Green River”, an emerg- area in the country.
Water Conservation -
It’s Time to Save! By
KAILASH DESAI
CHIEFOPERATING
OFFICER,
ENDRESS+HAUSAR
INDIA
In India, cities
having
population of
one million
people require
210 liters/day
water per
capita, while
they receive a
supply of 25
liters/day per
capita owing to
water loss due
to leakage - of
which 35% is
even difficult to
track.
WATER IN INDIA is pro- increase in the means department have not been Targeting 24*7 Water for efficient water manage-
foundly interlinked with the annual air temperature in able to keep required pace Supply ment in the country. The
tradition of country having many regions of country. with population growth and In the recent Union best part of this initiative is
social and economic under- So, what does this mean? urbanization which has Budget 2017-18 there were (it is not a perspective
tones. Reckoned as second Will there, be a shortage of resulted in increased various policy initiatives model but process that
most populated country in water? wastage of water, and this introduced such as UDAY, invites cities) to adjust
the World with over 1.2 bil- The Ministry of Urban has raised the demand for amendments in National their current planning and
lion people, India’s natural Development (MoUD) has better waste water man- Electricity Act, new solar management practices,
resources are under conducted a survey and agement. Waste water RPO target for states, bio technology advancement
tremendous pressure the findings are scary. It is management today, is of fuel policy, small hydro pol- for water management.
“Water” being the most vital seen over the years that paramount importance. icy, offshore wind policy, I, strongly believe that
amongst them. Increasing most of the cities in India Japan’s average nation- and new hydrocarbon poli- the country’s engineering
population has decreased do not have 24*7 water wide NRW, at less than cy. These would in a way technical community
the per capita water avail- supply and the coverage of 10%, is remarkable low by help boost the ecosystem needs to come together
ability from 2,309 cu m in sanitation has increased global standard which are and have the ability to and form a panel, stand
1991 to 1,588 cu m is it but resource sustainability signs of prosperity. The attract global investors to united in order to break
2010? If taken into account has weakened. Japanese are meticulous in India. On the other side we “silos” between old and
the projection of population completing their projected regularly read about water new technology, under-
growth by 2025 the per Non-Revenue Water (NRW) work as they believe in mismanagement and stand the need of their
capita water availability can Scenario technology advancement clashes over water respective city and focus
further decrease to 1,000 Non-Revenue Water and diligent approach to resources between states, I on - reducing water
cu m leading to a situation (NRW) - is defined as the job. In our country, cities see then next wars, if it wastage and providing
called water scarcity. difference between the having population of one happens will be fought for standardised drinking
At present, India does amount of water put into million people require 210 the ‘water’. Reforms are water to the citizen.
not fall under the category the distribution system and liters/day water per capita, required and the focus The natural water
of “water scarce” nation, the amount of water billed while they receive a supply should be to reduce non- resources, storm water/
through it would be truly to consumers. NRW is a of 25 liters/day per capita - revenue water, groundwa- rainwater catchment sys-
stated as a “water stressed” good indicator for water owing to water loss due to ter exploitation and steps tem as a potential source
nation. Many towns and vil- utility performance, as high leakage of which 35% should be taken for waste need to be conserved and
lages in various parts of the levels of NRW typically indi- sometimes is even difficult water controlling, maintained aptly to take
country are fighting with cate a poorly managed to track. Successful utilities care of future water
water stress, and ironically water utility. In addition, actively address NRW by Recycling and Reuse of requirements. This is pos-
those areas where water is published NRW data are controlling physical losses, Waste Water sible by introducing new
available, quality of water is often problematic, suspi- ensuring quality DMA There are cities which age technology which
a serious concern. cious, inaccurate, or pro- metering, customer meter are not serious on water would help conserve natu-
The rapid growth of vide only partial informa- accuracy and making all conservation/ manage- ral resources.
Indian economy filled by tion. The causes of NRW, efforts to keep the number ment which is resulting in Today, the world is
higher purchasing power, such as leakage due to age- of illegal connections nil. increase of water shortage. keeping a close eye on
life style changes and ing pipes, theft through ille- Taking these measures can Some of the recent initia- India as they would like to
increase in urban popula- gal connection, and tam- boost revenue by increas- tives by the Government see how it can translate
tion are increasing the chal- pering with meters, are ing the amount of water instilling hope are - 100 words into actions as well
lenges to the depleting major impediment to effec- that can be billed while smart cities project, the accelerate the reform
water resources. This situa- tive use of water. The water reducing wastage. This National Mission to clean momentum for more sus-
tion is further aggravated management skill sets increases profitability and Ganga and the total sanita- tainable and comprehen-
by unfriendly climatic con- need to be upgraded in improves the return on tion program. sive growth. Let us all
ditions like the rapid decline India. Wastage of water at investment, which the utili- The integrated Urban come together to build
in the Himalayan glaciers & various points can be ty can then reinvest Water Management green infrastructure for
snow fields, increasing reduced as city develop- retained earnings and (IUWM) in 2015 created a our country, let us reduce,
drought condition and flood ment and regulations improve its productivity. new agenda and approach recycle and reuse water.
condition spread across the
country.
As per report by
ASSOCHAM and Skymet
weather services, with
prominent upsurge in the
number of hot days and
day and night temperature,
India is drying out marked
by persistent moisture
shortfall condition inter-
preted into Latur like water
crisis, The report states
that nine states are reeling
under drought and it is also
reported that there is an Endress+Hauser Installations of Flow Meter in Pune
Water - Reflections By
EDDYMOORS
RECTOR,
IHE DELFTINSTITUTE
FOR WATER EDUCATION
Understanding
true value of
water requires
an integrated
approach, where
engineering
meets socio
economics and
then the
resulting
proposal/
evaluation
becomes much
more attractive
to investors,
both public and
private.
I ENTITLED MY recent Kerala. capacity of sector organiza- projects. These include: www.wateraccounting.org)
Inaugural Lecture as Rector The third is new water. tions, knowledge centres As part of this project
of IHE Delft, ‘Water – “New” water refers to treat- and other institutions Local Treatment of the WA+ team of IHE-Delft
Wrestling with Wicked ed water, being either active in the fields of water, Urban Sewage and will: a) prepare water
Problems’. A wicked prob- saline water or wastewater. the environment and infra- Streams for Healthy accounts for two river
lem refers to a complex It is a valuable source of structure in developing Reuse: This project will basins in Madhya Pradesh
problem for which there is water in water scarce countries and countries in demonstrate a novel, holis- (Kali Sindh and
no simple method or solu- areas, but it is not without transition”. tic (waste) water manage- Wainganga), and one in
tion, and every attempt can its problems, including As part of this exercise, ment approach for the Karnataka (Tungabhadra),
matter, because it affects health. There are also envi- the Institute educates and recovery of water, energy b) provide training of Water
the things people depend ronmental issues related to informs decision-makers to and nutrients from urban Accounting and open-
on. it, such as brine disposal, make better informed, sub- wastewater. Innovative but access Remote Sensing to
We know that water is which, among many other stantiated decisions. proven robust technolo- relevant governmental
life and so the first part of water issues, we at IHE One discipline which is gies, will be incorporated in organizations and local uni-
this column looks at what is Delft are working on. experiencing rapid growth a modular pilot treatment versities, and c) provide
at stake, particularly in Increasing water pro- is water accounting, plant along the Barapullah recommendations based
India, when it comes to ductivity by technical solu- because decision-makers drain. LOTUS-HR will lead on water security diagno-
water problems. Then, on a tions such as drip irrigation need to have reliable, inde- to the development of reli- sis.
more positive note, I will or reuse of water, is one pendent and open access able technologies, tools, In addition, IHE Delft is
discuss the way forward way to tackle the issue of data. Combining remote models and approaches for providing Capacity
and in particular what IHE water scarcity. However, sensing and in-situ data, local stakeholders, Development in Water
Delft, as a UNESCO insti- acceptable sustainable information is collected, enabling market develop- Accounting Plus (WA+) and
tute and part of the UN solutions are most likely to that can then be used for ment for water reuse associated tools for Central
Water Family, is contribut- be found in a more socio- monitoring purposes (e.g. strategies and solutions for Water Commission, India.
ing to achieving the SDGs, economic holistic how a country or region is other Indian mega cities.
including through our work approach. progressing towards imple- Strategic Basin Assess-
in India. Preventing conflict and menting the water related Water Accounting in Se- ment of Brahmaputra
The first ‘pool’ of water is transboundary water dis- SDG) as well as water gov- lected Asian River Basins - Basin, Funded by the World
surface water and how it is putes is of growing impor- ernance and water alloca- Pilot Studies in India: Bank
affected by climate change tance, as water becomes tion. Various national water We run a number of tai-
and the impact of mankind ever scarcer. India is no Another area of great resources assessments lor-made training courses,
on water quality. Changing stranger to this subject, interest at IHE Delft, is sus- and plans are underway, or including IWRM (Integrated
snow melt as well as rainfall particularly at local levels tainability of water have been completed Water Resource
patterns are affecting the (state and district). IHE resources. For example recently to reflect to sup- Management) training
location and timing of Delft runs Master’s courses what is the impact of port a year-round clean course for Karnataka water
water availability. This, in on this topic as well as hydropower, itself an and affordable water sup- engineers and crop water
combination with increas- training diplomats and gov- attractive alternative to ply. The quality of these productivity for improved
ing water demands for food ernment officials on how to fossil fuels, or other reser- water resources plans investment and manage-
production and other activ- negotiate equitable access, voirs on environmental depends on adequate ment of Asia’s irrigation and
ities, increases the pres- with an optimum outcome flow? The Sustainable input data, which is not waters basin. This includes
sure on this scarce being a treaty between Development Goals (SDGs) always available. Water a demonstration of SEBAL,
resource. The scarcity is involved parties. also play a role. For exam- accounting provides a one of the first and most
further aggravated by the Water has been taken ple, creating more water coherent and consistent widely recognized and used
declining quality of most for granted for too long and storage facilities for irriga- methodology that quanti- models to “map” evapo-
water bodies. now this basic resource is tion to achieve the food fies hydrological process- transpiration using satellite
The second ‘pool’ is starting to be valued, as it related SDG may hamper es, water storage, base images, especially in agri-
groundwater and increas- should. Understanding the environmental flow which is flow, and the distribution of culture.
ingly the problems caused true value of water requires an integral part of the sus- water to various compet- In conclusion, I have a
by ingress of saline water. an integrated approach, tainable water SDG. The ing sectors. It also consid- strong affinity to India, hav-
Examples are the lowering where engineering meets challenge is how to create ers the consumption of ing lived and worked in
of the groundwater table in socio economics and then solutions without creating water and the benefits and Mumbai for a while and
large parts of India as well the resulting proposal/ wicked problems, or at services - including made many trips to differ-
as the decline in water pro- evaluation becomes much least minimizing them. ecosystem services - that ent regions. For IHE Delft,
ductivity of the springs in more attractive to In India, to try to develop result from that consump- the Institute is and always
the foothills of the investors, both public and solutions more quickly and tion, including the return has been an important
Himalayas. In coastal private. effectively, we are trying to flow of non-consumed country. We have 500 alum-
areas, the increasing saline increase our collaboration water. A water accounting ni there, many of whom are
water intrusion, due to a The Way Forward with government bodies, system based on open in positions of responsibility
combination of reduced As an Institute, IHE Delft other institutions, as well as access earth observation and decision-making. We
river discharge as well as has the mission “to con- private companies. We are satellite data for complete hope to collaborate with
rising sea levels, is causing tribute to the education currently in discussions to river basins - including many Indian partners over
serious problems, on top of and training of profession- open a Water Institute in transboundary basins - is the next few years to try to
the already existing water als, to expand the knowl- conjunction with a leading being piloted in this proj- tackle, together, some of
quality issues in, for exam- edge base through university in India and we ect: The Water Accounting your wicked water
ple, the back waters in research and to build the are involved in a number of Plus system (WA+, problems.
MY ENGAGEMENT WITH have shrunk by 60%. Rivers up by seventeen percent. forty years ago. Now we least we must drive in the
nature is not as an ecolo- like Krishna and Kaveri do We are a country which need an enforceable policy right direction towards
gist or as an environmen- not touch the ocean for consumes a huge amount which will determine how what must be done.
talist. I am not a scientist of three-four months of the of pulses, but we are not we should live around our As a step towards this, for
any kind. My engagement year. The issue is not limit- able to grow them anymore water bodies, what we 30 days from September 3
with nature is as life. Right ed to a few rivers. Across because there is no water. should do and what we to October 2, we conducted
from my childhood, I’ve the country, most of our Most of these crops are should not do. the Rally for Rivers, where I
spent more time outdoors rivers are drying up. rainwater irrigated, but the For this, we have come personally drove across 16
than indoors. From the age Many people in the rain is not dependable any- up with a draft policy rec- states and over 9300 kilo-
of 12 to 17, every day I swam country have a certain more. There was a time ommendation put together meters, with 142 events
in Kaveri. And when I was 17, mentality that status quo is when farmers used to know by a panel of experts and across the country, to make
I rafted down Kaveri from a solution. Status quo is not which day it will rain with- scientists. The solution is a strong pitch for saving our
Bhagamandala to Mysore a solution. Status quo out any meteorological that for a minimum of one rivers.
on four truck tubes and means you are resigning department, but today you kilometer on either side of We have presented the
twelve bamboos. Even now yourself to your present have no clue when it will the river and half kilometer draft River Revitalization
it is difficult to keep me predicament, whatever it is. come, so how will you know for tributaries, we plant Policy to the union govern-
indoors! When it comes to our when to plant? native, endemic vegetation. ment, state governments,
My experience of rivers, rivers, our water bodies and Wherever it is govern- various experts and the
of water and of nature is our soil, you may think the Reviving Our Rivers ment land, we create a for- media. It is also available for
not by study, but simply by situation is status quo, but One fundamental reason est in the entire area – not public download and there is
observation. I have spent nature doesn’t think so. As for the depletion of our just restricted to a kilome- a three-month window dur-
weeks on end by myself in far as nature is concerned, rivers is that there is not ter. Wherever it is farmer- ing which we welcome all
jungles, living off the jungle a serious depletion of soil, enough vegetation on the owned land, there needs to technical and scientific
with no external support. water and other life-making land. In order to feed rivers, be a shift to tree-based inputs to further strengthen
There is nothing special in material is happening. the soil around them needs agriculture. This will also the policy.
this. Every other creature in In this country, before to be wet. Most of our rivers result in more than dou- After this, there is a lot of
the world does this. I have the 1950s, we had famines are forest-fed. When the bling farmers’ income. work to turn this into a poli-
never separated myself that killed in millions. When land was covered by rain- If we implement this cy and put it on the ground.
from nature. I see myself the horrendous act of Adolf forest, precipitation gath- properly in the next eight to We will pursue this on vari-
and everything else as just Hitler killing six million ered in the soil and fed the ten years, you will see the ous levels and try to sup-
an element of that. Jews was unfolding in streams and rivers which flows in the river can go up port the government.
Europe over a period of six then were in full flow. by fifteen to twenty percent Wherever they find loop-
Soil & Water Are Not Com- to seven years, in just two- If there is no forest, there in the next 15 to 25 years. holes and they don’t have
modities and-a-half months, 3.5 mil- will be no river after some But if we wait for 15, 20 the time or energy to fill in
Your body is just soil and lion people were killed in time. This must be under- years and then attempt to those loopholes, we will
water sitting here. Most the Bengal famine in 1943. stood: people think that reverse the problem, it will step in.
people don’t get this point For fifty years, we have because of water there are take a very long time to If we can arrive at a com-
until you bury them. When avoided another famine. trees. No, because of trees turn around. This is not mon policy and start the
we are buried, we all under- But now we are once again there is water. So our rivers activist talk, this is proper implementation, it will be a
stand that we are part of driving ourselves into the need sufficient green cover science. huge and successful step
the soil. It is because we same place. all along their course. This is a responsibility for the future of our nation
have some mobility right People may not die in But this is not going to that we owe to the future and for the wellbeing of
now that we can’t believe such high numbers today happen with volunteer generations. As a genera- generations to come.
that we are part of the soil. but there will definitely be enthusiasm. You and me tion of people, we have Note: Visit RallyForRivers.org for
more information on how you can par-
If we were rooted like a tree, serious disruption of life. planting a few million trees caused the maximum dam- ticipate and get involved in Rally For
we would understand this Once there is no water in – the time for that is over. age. As a generation, even if Rivers – a nationwide campaign to
very clearly. the villages, you will have an We should have done that we can’t fix everything, at revitalize our rivers.
Like the soil, water is exodus. You will have peo-
also not a commodity. It is ple camping in your city, in
life-making material. The the streets, all over. If you
human body is 72% water. try to do anything with
You are a water body. And them, they will get violent.
on this planet, rivers are the The civil strife that we
water bodies with which we could be faced with in the
have the closest relation- next 30-40 years is
ship. But if you look at our immense.
rivers today, they have suf- This is not about trying
fered drastic depletion. to paint a doomsday pic-
Many rivers that have been ture. We are clearly driving
perennial for millions of in a certain direction, and if
years, are turning seasonal we don’t change our direc-
in just two generations. And tion now, we will inevitably
they are going to deplete go towards certain situa-
faster in the coming years. tions. In the last four years,
Some of the major rivers our pulse import has gone
It is in India’s
rural
communities
where an
imminent need
is felt: only 43%
of rural
habitations have
piped water
supply, which
covers just 54%
of population.
WE ALL WISH for a world in have piped water supply, water; and coordination
which safe, affordable which covers 54 percent of among various government
water is available for every- the population (at 40 litres bodies.
one. This sentiment is the of water per capita per Based on India’s 2017-
driving force behind the day). Yet still, the 2011 2018 budget, however, an
United Nations’ Census of India estimates insufficient sum of INR
Sustainable Development that 138 million rural 5,000 crores is allocated to
Goal (SDG) 6.1, which aims households in India - the Ministry of Drinking
to “achieve universal and approximately 690 million Water and Sanitation for the
equitable access to safe people - lack access to National Rural Drinking
and affordable drinking treated piped water. India Water Programme. As we
water for all” by 2030. ranks 120th out of 122 move toward the 2030 goal -
However, 2.1 billion people nations for its water quality, which includes an interim
around the globe lack and 133rd out of 180 target of piped water for 95
access to safe water. The nations for its water avail- percent of households by iJal Equipment (Photo Credit: Suzanne Lee)
World Bank estimates that, ability. 2022 - the country’s
at current spending levels, India has achieved approach regarding water small water enterprises a proposition that can be
4.5 billion people will be in unprecedented progress in access and availability must that operate under the replicated and scaled up by
need of safe water by 2030 providing water access to be re-evaluated. brand iJal. These iJal sta- others. With more than 200
- a number that will account communities through a In recent years, the public tions serve as community- stations (primarily in
for more than half of the number of innovative gov- and private sectors have level treatment facilities Telangana) reaching more
world’s projected popula- ernment initiatives been looking to small water that produce water in than 7,23,000 people, Safe
tion. designed to satisfy the enterprises - decentralized, adherence to national stan- Water Network’s opera-
These estimates are all United Nations’ Millennium locally owned and operated dards. The stations provide tional footprint in India is a
the more exasperating Development Goals (prede- water supply systems that equitable and inclusive safe compelling argument for
when we realize that, cessor to the current provide affordable, reliable, water to communities for the potential of small water
though there may be Sustainable Development safe drinking water on a sus- drinking and cooking at enterprises.
enough fresh water on the Goals). Access to basic tainable basis - as an oppor- affordable prices. Using The success of small
planet to achieve SDG 6.1, water supply facilities has tunity to meet the need reverse osmosis water water enterprises in India is
various obstacles stand in been provided for many, where large infrastructure is treatment technology, each proof that this approach
the way of the significant through a combination of inappropriate or cumber- iJal station features a can help bridge the safe
progress that must be piped water systems, pro- some, and where coverage remote monitoring system water accessibility gap. iJal
made in order to ensure tected wells, hand pumps, slippage is an issue. There that allows for real-time stations have positively
safe water globally. As a and other means. are currently an estimated tracking to monitor water impacted lives in communi-
result, millions of people The challenge that India’s 30,000-35,000 small water quality and system per- ties throughout India by
are affected each year from government now faces cen- enterprises across India, formance. Stations are providing safe and afford-
diseases related to inade- ters on achieving India’s and many more are needed. built only after Safe Water able drinking water, improv-
quate safe water supply. 2030 vision for affordable, The small water enterprise Network has received ing quality of life with fewer
These issues become equitable, efficient, and sus- approach can be a comple- approval from local govern- incidences of waterborne
more pronounced when we tainable piped water supply mentary solution for areas ments, and local residents diseases, and increasing
consider a country like for all - referred to as Har where piped water is are trained to operate and workdays and schooldays
India, which is home to 1.32 Ghar Jal (water for every unavailable or insufficient, maintain the plant and as a result.
billion people - approxi- home). India aims to provide and offers an affordable interact with consumers. At a capital expense of
mately 18 percent of the 70 litres of water per capita approach to reach those in Equipped with an inventory INR 1,100 per capita, or a
world’s population. India per day using sustainable need. of spare parts, skilled tech- total cost of INR 75,000
has four percent of the sources, while ensuring sus- Research suggests that, nicians provide support in crores, small water enter-
world’s freshwater tainable services. This even among low-income maintaining and repairing prises could provide sus-
resources, but this water is requires covering opera- populations, consumers the stations to keep down- tainable safe water access
unevenly distributed (both tions and maintenance are willing to pay INR 5 per time below two percent. to 690 million people in
spatially and temporally). costs from revenue so that 20 litres of safe water. This Operational sustainability rural India - and ensure that
As a result, an estimated 38 high-quality water can be willingness to pay implies is matched with financial future generations achieve
million people annually are provided on an on-going that the market-based sustainability: the Safe the economic opportunity
affected by waterborne dis- basis to a growing rural pop- approaches can be viable Water Network model is that safe water and good
eases, and approximately ulation. as long as affordability is designed to provide incen- health provide.
4,00,000 deaths can be To meet the govern- taken into account. tives and capacity-building Armed with this evi-
attributed to contaminated ment’s water goals, an addi- (According to the United throughout the value chain dence, it is now up to sector
water each year. tional investment of nearly Nations, water tariffs that so that the stations can stakeholders to work
Inadequate access to INR 5,00,000 crores in infra- do not exceed three per- function reliably and con- together, in alliance, to cat-
safe drinking water impacts structure alone will be cent of household income tinuously, funded by con- alyze the scale up of small
the health and economic required. In addition, the is considered affordable.) sumer water fees. water enterprises. In doing
well-being of the country as country will need to achieve: Guided by Government Recognizing the enormi- so, we stand to realize a
a whole, but it is in India’s a reduction in coverage slip- of India policies, Safe Water ty of the challenge in India healthy future for India and
rural communities where pages; an improvement in Network provides a safe and around the world, Safe the world - one of equity,
an imminent need is felt: 43 water quality; an alternative and affordable drinking Water Network has been inclusiveness, and sustain-
percent of rural habitations to dependency on ground- water solution through focused on demonstrating ability.
will depend upon efficiently through safe use of water and water conservation. For higher priority than any lic and private sectors, and
handling of entire water sources. going forward in India, we other. The Uttarakhand High within the different levels of
cycle using modern tech- SPML Infra, based on its need to consider the imple- Court has recognized the government from centre to
nologies and best practices. experience of more than 3 mentation of smart water rivers - Ganga and Yamuna state to local levels. Private
At the same time, it will be decades in water manage- grids in our cities, especially as a living entity, which expertise is essential in
essential that necessary ment in India, has developed in the planned smart cities means that anybody found closing the water gap
technologies, capabilities, an Integrated Management to help service provider with polluting the river would be across the segment.
processes and practices are Information System (IMIS), real time monitoring of seen as harming a human
made available on the a software solution for assets and water quality to being. It reflects a sense of Optimism
required timescale. smart management of water enhance planning and net- urgency in containing water The Indian water sector
utilities. It is highly scalable work operations; it also contamination and trying to is on the crossroads today.
Water Technologies and capable of handling the enables consumers to make rescue our rivers from ram- In a developing country with
The global innovation in Metering, Billing, CRM, informed choices towards pant pollution. huge requirements, there is
water technologies will help Network Analysis, Demand water conservation. In addi- India’s agriculture sector a vast scope for growth. The
in countering water scarcity Forecasting & Management, tion, the usage data from consumes more water to total Indian water market is
issues and support utilities Asset and Inventory automated meter readings grow same amount of crops estimated to be about USD
with sustainable water man- Management, Business will enable more accurate compared to global average. 14 billion with a growth rate
agement services. The Intelligence, and Operation demand prediction for opti- Despite being a water scarce of about 18 per cent every
inventive technology has & Maintenance of the entire mizing pumping schedules, country, our agricultural pro- year. At SPML Infra, we are
made significant break- water supply and distribu- water turn-over in service duce is extremely water optimistic of India’s water
throughs in water supply tion network. After imple- reservoirs, and water intensive. While the agricul- sector’s prospects and our
and distribution, drip irriga- menting this system, the required to be treated and ture sector needed urgent role within. We believe that
tion, desalination, waste water loss has been consid- pumped. The further water reforms, non-agricul- the water infrastructure has
water treatment, automa- erably reduced and revenue research and testing are ture use of water also suffers not grown even to the
tion, asset management, increased significantly with being done to realize the full from unplanned usage and extent of 10 percent of its
metering and other aspects better consumer services in benefits of a Smart Water wastage. A majority of India’s true potential, which indi-
of water management. Delhi and Karnataka. Grid. households are using private cates that this single verti-
Innovations such as afford- means such as bore-wells to cal holds out decades of
able desalination plants are Smart Water Grid Water Governance extract groundwater without sustainable growth poten-
need of the time in water Smart water grid inte- Improving governance in any regulation or concern for tial.
stressed states of grates Information and water segment remains a conservation. The policy India has for decades
Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu Communication Technology matter of concern since planning and implementa- been a consumption-driven
and Rajasthan which are (ICT) into a single water arrangements are generally tion must have the participa- economy, but it needs to
investing in such projects for management scheme. This fragmented which needs a tion of principal water stake- swing the needle towards
creating drinking water is a promising solution for radical transformation to be holders of our country like infrastructure growth. We
through desalination plants. resolving critical water prob- able to address new chal- farmers, industry, energy are pleased to see that the
Technologies for treating lems to ensure the security lenges. In India, water is producers, government present Indian government
water have also advanced of water quantity, quality being a state subject; water agencies, rural and urban appears to share the same
significantly over the past with the help of ICT-based supplies, irrigation and consumers etc. for improv- view. Over the last three
few years as researchers water management solu- canals, drainage and ing the governance of water. years, the Indian govern-
have increasingly focused tions. In Singapore, the embankments and storage ment has addressed the
their efforts on water treat- implementation of a Smart falls in the state list. There is Future Course sector’s potential with an
ment technologies. Today Water Grid system supports a need to recognize water as Management of water unusual but highly effective
the availability of clean, safe the mission to supply 24x7 a finite and vulnerable supply required to harmo- response. The government
drinking water is on demand good water supplies to its resource. The government nize demands and needs has selected to correct the
at every location in the people. With sensors and should take urgent action to which are getting more and sectoral framework with the
world. However, even this analytic tools deployed to set the stage for enactment more complex and sophisti- declaration of large projects
highly treated water is sub- provide a real-time monitor- of a comprehensive national cated. The first thing we under several new schemes
ject to degradations in qual- ing and decision support legislation on water after must do is to mitigate the having dedicated budgets
ity once it leaves the treat- system, the Smart Water evolving a national consen- causes of water shortages for water sector. We believe
ment plant and enters the Grid system enables utility sus to bring it in the concur- as much as possible. A that this sequential correc-
distribution system. The to manage the water supply rent list and formulate an strategic and pragmatic tion is critical and logical in
new innovations in water network efficiently, ensuring over-arching national legal approach, based on practical policy framework and once
treatment technology have that all residents will contin- framework for effective implementation has to be it becomes a reality, we
enabled us to develop new ue to enjoy a reliable and water management, conser- implemented in order to believe that projects will be
cities and habitants along sustainable water supply for vation, development and address the key challenges completed faster, cash
with our businesses. Water generations to come. The equitable distribution with of water management. We inflows will be quicker, in-
purification system using Smart Water Grid system regulatory authority to deal need to have smart water project disputes will be
nanotechnology offers covers the key operational exclusively with the matter. concept with the gradual addressed and resolved
opportunities to develop aspects of a water distribu- The existing legislations on integration and convergence closest to real-time, the
next generation water sup- tion system like asset man- water should also be com- of ICT solutions implement- unproductive investment in
ply systems with advanced agement, leak and non-rev- prehensively reviewed. ed within the water domain. long-drawn arbitration will
level of treatment to enue water management, Legislation and executive The water management decline, infrastructure
improve efficiency as well as water quality monitoring, action must continue to be requires a collaborative growth will accelerate and
to augment water supply automated meter reading undertaken as water ranks approach between the pub- the country will benefit.
TechnologyApproach
for Water Management
for Smart Cities
By WATER IS ESSENTIAL for understand its residual dition assessment of
life but is finite and there- life has become very pop- water mains and to deter-
K.ASHOK NATARAJAN fore precious. Serving pure ular especially in other mine the C value of pipes.
and potable water, with no Asian countries due to A fibre optic cable with
CEO,TAMILNADU WATER INVESTMENT sewer overflows to the high cost of rehabilitation. scanner complete analy-
COMPANYLTD. dense populations in pro-
posed smart cities in India,
New technology using
closed circuit TV helps to
sis of pipework, wall thick-
ness of pipes and location
is a challenging task given ascertain both the water of vulnerability can be
the fact that most of the and sewer pipe line in zeroed including joint
cities proposed in India are terms of structural condition of pipes.
brown fields. integrity and quality of • An important methodolo-
By now, it is widely accepted joints thereby helps to gy for leak detection is
in India that 24x7 (continu- manage risks than tradi- being refined through
ous) supply is the preferred tional approach of replac- application of GPR
way forward for smart ing pipes and this enables ground penetrating radar
cities, with such supply the Capex to be optimized where leaked joints that
being more hygienic (better and the perquisite of could to lead to pollution
water quality), more cost- smart cities to be com- can be detected by non-
effective (less leakage and mercially viable within 5 destructive geophysical
breakdowns, less invest- years is possible to techniques. The GPR
ment by consumer) and achieve compared to the operates by transmitting
more productive for the traditional approach of microwave electromag-
consumer. replacement. netic energy down into
At present, attempts • Traditional non-revenue the subsurface. When EM
towards 24x7 water supply water loss methodologies waves encounter the
have brought forward a mul- of active and passive leak- interface having different
titude of problems facing age controls in pressur- dielectric constant, the
the utility, bringing the real- ized systems can be aug- portion of the wave is
ization that 24x7 could only mented by using Smart reflected. The amplitude
happen if both the distribu- Ball leak detection tech- of the reflected wave is
tion network and the utility nology which has been directly proportional to
itself underwent a transfor- used in Malaysia and difference in the dielectric
mation and the utility Manila wherein a smart properties of the target
deployed contemporary ball is inserted and travels and the medium. Through
technologies to manage with water flow for 12 this method, the probable
It is widely accepted in India that water. hours and collects infor- locations with leakage can
Emergence of NDT mation and this can be located which will lead
24x7 supply is the preferred way Techniques for condition detect even pin hole leaks to optimization of excava-
assessment of water and in pressurized pipes. tion work required, and
forward for smart cities, with such waste water network for • A new devise for pipe scan need of pipeline replace-
supply being more hygienic, more smart cities:
• Understanding when a
technology using teth-
ered in line inspection has
ment and the need of
repair work. Hence, saving
cost effective, and more water or sewerage pipe is been successfully time and money to a great
expected to fail and to deployed to perform con- extent.
productive for the consumer.
Emergence of the Decen- an important resources and are emerging in sustainable flow, pressure and levels in able can help in the integra-
tralized Wastewater Man- reference to sustainable wastewater management the inlet of the Elevated tion of the technical, com-
agement Strategies for wastewater management. include the use of pressure Service Reservoir (ESR) mercial ad planning func-
Smart Cities Decentralized waste- sewers and smart discharge based on extensive tion of a smart city thus
Sanitation has been the water systems, coupled scheduling to Sewerage hydraulic modelling of exist- enabling them to have more
single most important pub- with the concepts of an Treatment Plants (STPs) to ing and modified water sup- control of their assets and
lic health infrastructure for urban model for urban moderate inflow patterns to ply networks and Outlet thus making themselves
all communities, and sanita- water management is optimize the operation and Management System viable.
tion for all remains a key emerging as a model for capacity of these plants. devices for measurement & This column looks at
objective for India under sewerage services support- control of flow and pressure suggested practices by
Swachh Bharat scheme. ing sustainable and resilient Emergence of the Inte- at the downstream side of deployment of technologies
Many proposed smart cities of the future. grated Water Management ESR in the distribution sys- available for efficient water
cities face the challenge of Fit-for-purpose recycled Systems for Smart Cities tem can be implemented management for proposed
aging sanitation infrastruc- water schemes are emerg- Integrated management and shall have the feature of smart cities that are essen-
ture or inadequate capacity ing to maximize recycled of distribution network solu- remote on/off, flow control, tial for effective water man-
to service a growing popula- water usage where a base- tion that allows for success- flow metering, air manage- agement, with the intention
tion. line recycled water quality is ful transition from intermit- ment etc., and system shall that some of these meas-
Furthermore, approxi- reticulated with additional tent to equitable and con- be capable to deliver the ures be introduced in cur-
mately 90% of all waste- treatment facilities to fit- tinuous water supply can be water to end user as per the rent practices to limit risks
water in India is discharged for-purpose standards deployed. demand. and provide more options to
untreated, polluting rivers, located at the demand-side Reservoir Management These systems along the utility about future oper-
lakes and seas. Wastewater of the system. System (RMS) devices for with the smart metering ations and viability for
is now widely recognized as Other innovations that measurement & control of and IOT technologies avail- smart cities.
Solving Global
Water Crisis By
KOICHI MATSUI
CHAIRPERSON &
MANAGING DIRECTOR,
UEM INDIA
On current
trends, it is
estimated that
water demand -
for industry,
energy and an
extra billion
people - will
increase up to
50% by 2030.
Water Sustainability
Initiatives
By IT IS AN established fact that water is a finite resource.
With urbanization and industrialization, abuse of water has
RAJIVMITTAL been on the rise. Emerging markets face challenges such
as exploitation of catchment areas, high contamination of
MANAGING DIRECTOR water sources, losses during water distribution, low per-
centage of population connected to water and wastewater
& GROUPCEO, networks, inadequate treatment infrastructure, quality of
VATECH WABAG LTD water and treated sewage not conforming to prescribed
norms and sludge management.
The need of the hour is a comprehensive water and
wastewater management model which focuses on effec-
tively closing the water cycle by creating sufficient catch-
ment areas, coming up with alternative sources of water
such as desalination to bridge the water demand supply
gap in coastal areas, employing water conservation mech-
anisms, reducing leakages, effectively collecting and treat-
ing every drop of wastewater generated, and reusing the
wastewater for domestic, industrial and agricultural pur-
poses to minimize the burden on freshwater.
We need a robust policy framework and focus on imme-
diate implementation to create a sustainable water and
wastewater infrastructure by analysing how much we
extract, how much we squander, how much we consume,
how much we treat and most importantly how much we
value the finite resource called water.
As an industry leader with global credentials, we believe
it is our obligation to propose recommendations to policy
makers for development of water and wastewater infra-
structure to support economic growth. Some of these rec-
ommendations are elaborated below:
1. Concerted efforts to increase awareness levels among
the general public to optimize per capita consumption
and minimize wastage.
2. Rainwater harvesting to be made mandatory before
permitting any new construction.
3. Practice water conservation in agriculture, constitut-
ing 80% of freshwater demand.
a. Techniques such as drip irrigation instead of flood
irrigation.
b. Quality treated wastewater to be reused for irriga-
tion, and Windhoek in Namibia is a city where the
We need a robust policy framework same is in practice:
• The 21,000 m³/day Goreangab Water
and focus on immediate Reclamation Plant was born out of Windhoek’s
water emergency. It was the first in the world to
implementation to create a take municipal wastewater and turn it into
sustainable water and wastewater municipal drinking water.
• First industrial reuse plant in Namibia: The 5,175
infrastructure. m³/day Ujams Water Reclamation Plant. The
plant treats a cocktail of effluents from 5 differ-
ent types of industries and the water is treated
to an extent that allows reuse in irri- compliance. tion, thus sustaining its daily water
gation. 7. Reduce specific water consumption in supply.
industries to minimize freshwater require-
ment by opting for plant modernization
with advanced water reuse technologies: A
properly planned tariff system driven by
economic considerations, in which there is
a cost for the quantity withdrawn, a refund
for returning properly treated water and
heavy fines for returning polluted water will
promote greater uptake of recycle meas-
Ujams Water Reclamation Plant, Namibia ures by industries requiring large quantities
of water:
4. Increased focus on construction of under- a. In line with Ministry of Power notifica- 100,000 m³/day Nemmeli Desalination Plant, Chennai
ground sewers and interception/diversion tion to reuse municipal sewage for ther-
systems: Ensures 100% collection and mal plants and Ministry of Environment • The city meets almost 25% of its daily
conveyance of wastewater to treatment and Forests notification mandating new requirement from the two desalina-
plants to eliminate untreated discharge thermal plants to reduce specific water tion plants. The 100,000 m³/day
into freshwater sources. consumption from 3.5-4 m³/MWh to Nemmeli Desalination plant in the
5. In the rural areas - having absence of net- 2.5 m³/MWh and reuse of treated efflu- largest in the country on DBO (Design
works - in line with Government’s Swachh ents within the industry to close the Build Operate) basis and is meant for
Bharat and Open-Defecation-Free pro- water loop. 100% potable reuse.
grams - ensuring that every village is b. Reuse of treated wastewater for indus- • Two reuse plants of 45,000 m³/day,
equipped with community soak pits/2 pit trial applications is in practice at NTPC, each under construction, to serve the
latrines which: Delhi: industrial corridors, thus helping pri-
a. Are eco-friendly, socio-culturally • A 2400 m³/day MBR (Membrane bio oritize freshwater for domestic con-
acceptable and economically afford- reactor) based STP (Sewage sumption.
able. Treatment Plant) and RO (Reverse 9. Avert land, water and air pollution with effi-
b. Help avert water pollution by scientific Osmosis) system as part of the reno- cient sludge management techniques:
septage management: For a cluster of vation and modernization process. a. Sludge left as residue post the treat-
villages within a specified radius, com- • The system not only ensures water ment process is rich in organic content
munity septic tanks can be constructed security for the power plant but also comprising Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous
for a more sustainable model. The effectively helps reuse of the source (P) and Potassium (K) and we need to
sludge gets digested and can be used as water, which carries only sewage. look at ways of recovering the resources
manure for agricultural purposes. With available:
a community septic tank of larger size, • Conversion of sludge into organic
the cost of emptying the pit can be met manure will restore natural contents
partially from the cost of manure made to the soil and reduce need for inor-
available. ganic/chemical fertilizers.
6. Realize that “sewage is a resource with eco- • Anaerobic digestion of the sludge or
nomic value, not a liability” and “water is septage produces biogas which con-
too precious to be used just once”: tains 65-70% methane:
a. Increasing percentage of sewage treat- - In rural areas, the biogas produced
ed in urban areas from current 30%, by can be used for cooking.
setting up more STPs (Sewage NTPC Badarpur, with the Adjoining Polluted Agra Canal - In urban areas, biogas to be used for
Treatment Plants) and refurbishing green power generation or as CNG,
non-operational STPs (13% of the exist- 8. In the domestic as well as commercial sec- thus alleviating environmental pollu-
ing STPs). tor, tion - In line with Ministry of New and
b. Construction contracts to have in-built a. Reuse of treated sewage for non- Renewable Energy’s subsidy pro-
provision for lifecycle partnership com- potable purposes such as flushing, gar- gramme for producing green power
prising operations and maintenance - to dening and construction to minimize and India’s ratification at Paris
be entrusted to technology players on dependence on freshwater for potable Climate Change Conference to satisfy
performance guarantee basis to purposes. 40% of its energy requirement from
improve accountability. b. For cities bereft of freshwater, treated non-fossil sources.
c. In-line with National Water Policy, recy- wastewater to be reused to recharge - The sludge from septic tanks in vil-
cle and reuse of municipal as well as aquifers and improve groundwater lages are well digested and can be
industrial effluents should be encour- table. In coastal areas, desalination is a used as good manure providing
aged by providing incentives to set up viable, sustainable and reliable source. improved yield in agriculture (In line
industrial treatment and recycling sys- Chennai is a fine example of a city which with the Ministry of Urban
tems which are capital intensive: has sustained its water supply notwith- Development’s Faecal Sludge and
Formulation and implementation of a standing not having a freshwater Septage Management Policy 2017).
“polluter pays” policy by means of strin- source. b. Composting to avoid leachate pollution
gent third-party inspections and ensur- • Chennai has been the pioneer in as a result of conventional sludge man-
ing that the “cost of non-compliance” is reusing treated sewage and using agement methods such as landfills and
significantly higher than the cost of desalination for domestic consump- sludge incineration.
Universal Access to
Piped and Safe Drinking
Water in India
By WATER POLICIES AND
programmes are occupying
are substantial initiatives,
such as the Atal Mission for
VR RAMAN good space in the current
development discourse in
Rejuvenation and Urban
Transformation (AMRUT),
HEAD OFPOLICY, India. The President and the
Prime Minister had recently
which have set clear goals
of providing piped drinking
WATERAID INDIA announced schemes for
provisioning of piped drink-
water supply to all urban
households. Therefore, the
ing water supply for all. The political intention for mov-
former had even expressed ing towards universal drink-
his concern to the extent ing water access in India is
that the advancement of visible at the highest level
India was reliant on the possible. However, this will
modernization of water translate into reality only
management, given that when the intents combine
India got a sheer 4% of with action, with an eye on
global fresh water share, quality outcomes. This mix
with the requirement of could be backed by way of
17% of the global popula- assessing the legal frame-
tion. works, adequate budgetary
Launched in March 2017, allocations and utilization,
‘Har Ghar Jal’ (water in and proper development
every household) is a and implementation of poli-
scheme with a mission of cies and programmes.
provisioning piped drinking
water supply to all house- Legal Frameworks
holds by 2030. Additionally, In the Indian context,
Sustainable Development water in general remains a
Goals (SDGs) aim to cover state subject. It would have
over 90 percent of the pop- helped if this was a shared
ulation by 2022. There are responsibility of both, the
visible and major steps centre and the state gov-
taken by various state gov- ernments. While the right to
ernments too, such as ‘Jal water is not explicitly men-
Bhagiratha’ in Telangana, tioned in the constitution,
Currently, only 17% of the rural ‘Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal’ in this has been reiterated in a
Bihar, ‘Basudha’ in Odisha, number of court judge-
households in India have access to ‘Jalanidhi-2’ in Kerala, ments. For instance, in
piped drinking water. ‘Sardar Sarovar Canal
Based Water Supply
2000, the Supreme Court
declared that access to
Project’ in Gujarat, ‘Jalyukta clean water is a fundamen-
Shivar Abhiyan’ in tal human right of all citi-
Maharashtra, the ‘Jal zens under Article 21 (Right
Swavalamban Abhiyan’ in to Life) of the Indian
Rajasthan, and so on. There Constitution, and that the
Desalination - Present
and Future
By OVER THE LAST thirty years
desalination has evolved into
to the ocean for fresh water.
The ocean has two
project development and
implementation in the next 5
NIKOLAYVOUTCHKOV a viable water supply alterna-
tive allowing to tap alterna-
unique and distinctive fea-
tures as a water supply
to 10 years.
Today, the desalination
PRESIDENT, tive water resources with source - it is drought proof plants provide approximate-
great potential to provide and is practically limitless. ly 1% of World’s drinking
WATER GLOBE CONSULTING LLC sustainable drought proof Over 50% of World’s popula- water supply and this per-
water supply in may arid tion lives in urban centers centage is increasing by the
regions of the world. At pres- bordering the ocean. In year. Over USD 10 billion of
ent, desalinated water is pro- many arid parts of the world investment in the next five
duced by either using brack- such as the Middle East, years would add 5.7 million
ish water (water with salt Australia, Northern Africa cubic meters per day of new
content of less than 10,000 and Southern California, the production capacity. This
mg/L) or seawater which population concentration capacity is expected to dou-
salinity in a range of 30,000 along the coast exceeds ble by year 2030.
to 44,000 mg/L. While 75%. Therefore, seawater Two basic types of tech-
desalination of brackish desalination provides the nologies have been widely
water offers opportunity for logical solution for a sustain- used to date to separate
production of lower cost able, long-term manage- salts from ocean water:
water, the total volume of ment of the growing water thermal evaporation and
brackish water worldwide is demand pressures in membrane separation. In
fairly limited (less than 1% of coastal areas. While brack- the last 10 years, seawater
world’s water) and in most ish water desalination offers desalination using semi-per-
arid regions of the world is opportunity for production meable Sea Water Reverse
almost fully tapped in. of lower cost desalinated Osmosis (SWRO) mem-
Therefore, use of brackish water, the total volume of branes have gained momen-
water desalination is not like- brackish water worldwide is tum and currently domi-
ly to become a main source less than 1% of the saline nates desalination markets
of alternative water supply in water contained in the outside of the Middle
the future. oceans. Eastern region where ther-
World’s oceans contain By the end of 2015 world- mal evaporation is still the
over 97.2% of the planet’s wide there were approxi- desalination technology of
Technology advances are water resources. Because of mately 18,000 desalination choice mainly due to access
expected to ascertain the the high salinity of the ocean
water and the significant
plants with total installed
production capacity of
to lower-cost fuel and tradi-
tional use of facilities co-
position of SWRO costs associated with sea- 86.55 million m³/day generating power and water.
water desalination most of [22,870 million gallons per
treatment and to reduce the World population’s water day (MGD)]. Approximately SWRO Membrane Technol-
the cost of desalinated supply has traditionally
come from fresh water
44% of this capacity (37.32
million m³/day /9,860
ogy Trends
Developments in seawa-
water by 20% in the next 5 sources like - groundwater MGD) is located in the ter RO desalination technol-
aquifers, rivers and lakes. Middle East and North Africa ogy during the past two
years and by up to 60% in However, changing climate (MENA). While desalination decades, combined with
patterns combined with in the MENA region is pro- transition to construction of
the next 20 years. population growth pres- jected to grow continuously large capacity plants, co-
sures and limited availability at a rate of 7 to 9% per year, location with power plant
of new and inexpensive Asia (e.g., China, India, generation facilities and
fresh water supplies are Singapore, Iran), US and enhanced competition by
shifting water industry’s Latin America are expected using Build-Own-Operate-
attention to an emerging to become “hot spots” for Transfer (BOOT) method of
trend - the world is reaching accelerated desalination project delivery have result-
ed in a dramatic decrease of While the quest to lower future. The main directions nation exists, such improve- pumps and energy recov-
the cost of desalinated energy use is continuing, of potential future improve- ments are not likely to pro- ery systems for SWRO
water. there are physical limitations ments are: duce further reduction in the applications
One of the key factors to how low the energy • Cost-effective application cost of water produced by • Replacement of key stain-
that contributed to the dra- demand could go using of source seawater soften- thermal desalination which less steel desalination
matic decrease of cost of reverse osmosis desalina- ing via membrane nanofil- his higher than 10 to 15%. plant components with
seawater desalination is the tion. The main limiting fac- tration or other pre-treat- plastic components to
advancement of the SWRO tors are the osmotic pressure ment technologies in order Advances of Conventional increase plant longevity
membrane technology. that would need to be over- to remove calcium and RO Desalination and decrease overall cost
Today’s high-productivity come to separate the salts magnesium compounds in Technologies of water production.
membrane elements are from the seawater and the the source seawater that A large SWRO desalina- • Reduction of membrane
designed with features to amount of water that could cause scaling on the inter- tion plant usually has thou- element costs by complete
yield more fresh water per be recovered from a cubic nal walls of the equipment, sands of membrane ele- automation of the entire
membrane element. These meter of seawater before evaporation vessels and ments connected into a production and testing
features are: (1) Higher sur- membrane separation piping of thermal desalina- highly automated and effi- process
face area, and (2) Denser process is hindered by salt tion plants. Mineral scaling cient water treatment sys- • Development of methods
membrane packing. scaling on the membrane results in the reduction in tem, which typically pro- for low-cost continuous
Increasing active membrane surface and the service sys- operational temperature, duces 1 cubic meter of fresh membrane cleaning which
leaf surface area allows to tems. This theoretical limit thermal process inefficien- water from approximately allow to reduce downtime
gain significant productivity for the entire seawater cy and loss of productivity 2.0 to 2.5 cubic meters of and chemical cleaning
using the same size (diame- desalination plant is approxi- over time. seawater. The membrane costs
ter) membrane element. mately 1.2 kWh/m³. • Development of new gener- productivity, energy use, salt • Development for methods
Newest membrane ele- ation of advanced scale separation efficiency, cost of for low-cost membrane
ments provide flexibility and Future Desalination Technol- control additives to improve production and durability of concentrate treatment, in-
choice, and allow trading ogy Advances efficiency and productivity the membrane elements by plant and off-site reuse,
productivity and Over the past 30 years, of thermal desalination large determine the cost of and disposal.
pressure/power costs. The both thermal and SWRO technologies. Such addi- the desalinated water. These technology
same water product quality membrane desalination tives will be biodegradable Technological and produc- advances are expected to
goals can be achieved either technologies and equip- to minimize the environ- tion improvements in all of ascertain the position of
by: a) reducing the system ment have evolved towards mental impact of the desali- these areas over the past SWRO treatment as most
f o o t p r i n t /c o n s t r u c t i o n reduction of the costs and nation plant discharge. two decades are now ren- cost-competitive processes
costs by designing the sys- energy used for production • Development of individual dering desalination by for potable water produc-
tem at higher productivity, of fresh drinking water from evaporation units of larger SWRO more competitive tion worldwide and to
or by b) reducing the system seawater. capacity, especially for than thermal desalination. reduce the cost of desalinat-
overall power demand by MED systems, in order to Membrane productivity – ed water by 20% in the next
using more membrane ele- Advances of Conventional gain further cost savings i.e. the amount of water that five years.
ments, designing the sys- Thermal Desalination due to economies of scale. can be produced by one
tem at lower flux and recov- Technologies • Implementation of higher membrane element, has Emerging Desalination Tech-
ery, and taking advantage of At present, thermal performance brine-recircu- increased over two times in nologies with High Cost Re-
newest energy recovery desalination technologies lation designs for MSF the last twenty years. duction Potential
technologies which further such as MSF, MED and VC units, which allow increase The future improvements
minimize energy use if the are well proven and mature. the overall desalination of the RO membrane desali- The Nano-structured
system is operated at lower Although thermal desalina- plant recovery. nation technology are fore- Membranes
(35 to 45 %) recoveries. tion technologies were intro- • Shift to lower-cost (plastic) casted to encompass: A recent trend in the
duced in the MENA region and lower corrosion mate- • Development of mem- quest for lowering the ener-
The Quest for Lower Energy over 50 years ago, these rials (duplex stainless branes of even higher salt gy use for SWRO desalina-
Use Continues technologies have evolved steel, titanium and alu- and pathogen rejection, and tion is the development of
Energy is one of the mainly in the direction of minum brass) to reduce productivity; and reduced nanostructured (NST) RO
largest expenditures associ- gradual enhancements of plant O&M costs. trans-membrane pressure, membranes, which provide
ated with seawater desalina- equipment and system • Replacing shell and tube and fouling potential more efficient water trans-
tion. Advances in the tech- design, configuration, scale units with plate evapora- • Improvement of RO mem- port as compared to existing
nology and equipment formation control, and tors in MED plants to brane resistance to oxi- conventional thin-film mem-
allowing to recover and materials. The latest MSF improve evaporator pro- dants, elevated tempera- brane elements. Nano-
reuse the energy applied for and MED thermal desalina- ductivity and reduce ener- ture and compaction structured membranes hold
seawater desalination have tion systems are highly effi- gy use. • Extension of membrane the greatest potential to
resulted in reduction of 80% cient, and have energy use • Implementation of absorp- useful life beyond 10 years cause a quantum leap in
of the energy used for water well within 30% of the theo- tion heat pumps and alter- • Integration of membrane desalination cost reduction
production over the last 20 retical minimum of energy native VC processes in pre-treatment, advanced because theoretically, they
years. Today, the energy needed for production of MED plants for improved energy recovery and SWRO can produce up to 20 times
needed to produce fresh fresh water by evaporation. energy efficiency. systems more fresh water from the
water from seawater for one Dramatic improvements It should be pointed out that • Integration of brackish and same membrane surface
household per year (~2,000 of existing conventional despite the fact that poten- seawater desalination sys- area, than the state-of-the-
kW/yr) is less than that used thermal desalination tech- tial for future incremental tems art SWRO membranes com-
by the household’s refriger- nologies are not expected in improvements in the efficien- • Development of new gen- mercially available on the
ator. the near or more distant cy of various thermal desali- eration of high-efficiency market at present. Such dra-
matic decrease in the mem- tion could yield cost of water present. The full-scale ly reduce the physical size filtration have seen modest
brane surface area needed reduction of 10 to 15%. implementation of such and capital costs of desali- advancement since their ini-
to produce the same volume Membrane Distillation technology at large-scale nation plants with over tial use for potable water
of desalinated water could (MD) desalination installations 30%. Current carbon elec- treatment several centuries
reduce the physical size and In membrane distillation however is at least 8 to 10 trode technology however ago, new more efficient
construction costs of mem- water vapor is transported years away. limits salt removal to only 70 desalination membranes,
brane desalination plants between “hot” saline stream The Electrochemical to 80%, uses approximately innovative thermal, mem-
over two times and bring and “cool” fresh water Desalination two times more energy than brane or hybrid desalination
this cost of production of stream separated by a Developed by Evoqua conventional RO systems technologies, and equip-
desalinated water produc- hydrophobic membrane. The (formerly Siemens) under a and is subject to high elec- ment improvements are
tion to the level of that of transport of water vapor Challenge Grant from the trode cleaning costs due to released every several years.
conventional water treat- through the membrane Government of Singapore, organic fouling. Similar to computers, the
ment technologies. relies on a small tempera- this continuous electro- Biomimetric Membranes SWRO membranes of today
Forward Osmosis (FO) ture difference between the chemical desalination with Aquaporin Structure are many times smaller,
In forward (direct) osmo- two streams. Currently, MD process is based on combi- Development of mem- more productive and cheap-
sis a solution with osmotic enjoys a fairly high academic nation of ultrafiltration pre- branes with structure and er than the first working pro-
pressure higher than that of interest because of its very treatment, electrodialysis function similar to these of totypes. Although, no major
the high-salinity source high recovery (as compared (ED) and continuous elec- the membranes of living technology breakthroughs
water (“draw solution”) is to RO) and lower energy use trodeionization (CEDI) and organisms (i.e., diatoms) may are expected to bring the
used to separate fresh water (as compared to convention- is claimed to desalinate sea- offer the ultimate break- cost of seawater desalina-
from the source water al thermal evaporation tech- water to drinking water through for low-energy tion further down dramati-
through a membrane. nologies). The main cost quality at only 1.5 kWh per desalination (specific energy cally in the next several
Several companies such as savings that can result from cubic meter (5.7 kWh/1,000 use below 2.0 kWh/1,000 gal- years, the steady reduction
Oasys, Modern Water, the application of this tech- gallons). This energy con- lons). In these membranes of desalinated water pro-
Hydration Technology nology for large-scale desali- sumption is lower than the water molecules are trans- duction costs coupled with
Innovation, and Trevi nation plants is lowering the energy use of conventional ferred through the mem- increasing costs of water
Systems have developed cost of fresh water produc- SWRO desalination sys- branes through a series of treatment driven by more
commercially available FO tion from highly saline sea- tems. The new process is low-energy enzymatic reac- stringent regulatory require-
membrane desalination waters such as these of the currently under full-scale tions instead of by osmotic ments, are expected to
technologies, which to date Arabian Gulf and the Red development and at the pressure. accelerate the current trend
have only found application Sea and the costs for con- Singapore Water Hub. The Currently, researchers at of increased reliance on the
for treatment of waste- centrate management and process operates at low the US, Singapore and ocean as an attractive and
waters from oil and gas disposal for brackish desali- pressure (40 to 50 psi), the Australia are focusing on competitive water source.
industry. The Trevi systems nation plants by 15 to 20%. equipment can be produced advanced research in the field This trend is forecasted to
FO technology is of potential Dewvaporation from plastic, and the mem- of biomimetic membranes. continue in the future and to
interest because it uses Similar to other thermal branes used for ED and Although this research field is further establish ocean
draw solution that can be evaporation processes, dew- CEDI are chlorine resistant. expected to ultimately yield water desalination as a reli-
reused applying solar power vaporation would be cost The potential reduction of high-reward benefits (e.g., able drought-proof alterna-
- it is the main innovative competitive to conventional desalinated water costs this overall desalinated water cost tive for many coastal com-
technology considered for RO desalination only if free technology can yield is 5 to reduction with over 100%), munities worldwide.
the ongoing solar power or low-cost waste heat is 15%. currently it is in early stages These technology
driven desalination research readily available. Such Capacitive Deionization of development. advances are expected to
led by Masdar in UAE. The process holds promise for (CDI) ascertain the position of
main potential benefit of the small-scale applications in This technology uses ion Potential Impact of Future SWRO treatment as viable
development of commercial- combination with renewable transport from saline water Technologies on Costs and cost-competitive
ly viable FO technologies for solar power source. The the- to electrodes of high ion The advance of desalina- processes for potable water
production of desalinated oretical cost reduction, such retention capacity, which tion technology is closest in production and to reduce
water is the reduction of the technology could yield is 15 transport is driven by a dynamics to that of the the cost of desalinated water
overall energy needed for to 25% of the cost of state- small voltage gradient. The computer technology. While by 20% in the next 5 years
fresh water production by 20 of-the-art thermal evapora- technology holds promise conventional technologies, and by up to 60% in the next
to 35%. Such energy reduc- tion technologies used at because it could theoretical- such as sedimentation and 20 years (Table 1).
Parameter for Best-in Class Desalination Plants Year 2016 Within 5 Years Within 20 Years
Electrical Energy Use (kWh/m³) 3.5 - 4.0 2.8 - 3.2 2.1 - 2.4
Membrane Productivity
28 - 47 35 - 55 95 - 120
(m³/membrane)
POSTEVENT
IFATIndia 2017
The core issue at the 3-day fair was how technology can help master the high volumes of
waste & wastewater and the impact of extreme weather on the subcontinent.
By Mayur Sharma
wastewater and the impact of (German Association for Water,
extreme weather on the subconti- Wastewater and Waste - DWA)
nent. apart from industry players.
On show, in Mumbai, were tai- During his visit, Vijay Shivtare,
lored solutions for the Indian mar- Minister for Water Resources and
ket. Water Conservation of the Indian
The event was held at the State Maharashtra, said: “It is time
Bombay Convention and Exhibition for action and to put environmental
Centre, Goregaon from 26-28 protection at the top of the political
September, 2017 in 8,100 square agenda. We participated in IFAT
meters of exhibition space. India because we seek change, and
It brought together local and this trade fair was the perfect plat-
international representatives from form for that.”
associations, state governments, IFAT India is now becoming
industry leaders and leading com- country’s leading trade fair for
panies to discuss challenges and water, wastewater, waste and recy-
solutions in the water, sewage, cling.
refuse and recycling sectors. The trade show provided a good
interactive platform to industry
Express Water View The Event Chief Guest & Industry Leaders experts, policy makers and busi-
The layout of the exhibition floor 2017 was the fifth anniversary of IFAT India 2017 was inaugurated ness leaders alike to discuss
at IFAT was different this year, with IFAT in India, and this year the show by Vijay Shivtare (Water Minister of regional strategies on numerous
a big addition of floor space to the was indeed more successful. Maharashtra), Ajay Mathur environmental challenges and seek
main exhibition hall. According to the organizers, (Director General TERI - The Energy solutions through formal interac-
This indicates the success of 6765 visitors took part in the trade and Resources Institute), Ann tions.
event organizers in increasing the fair for environmental technolo- Ollestad (Consul General, The
number of exhibitors and pavilions. gies. Royal Norwegian Embassy), Ulrika Exhibitors
We saw companies operating in The core issue at the 3-day fair Sundberg (Sweden Consul IFAT India 2017 saw over 184
the wastewater management seg- was how technology can help mas- General), and Roland Knitschky participants from 18 countries at
ment present in good number with ter the high volumes of waste &
their latest products and project
“
highlights on display.
Visitor traffic seemed very good
and steady on all three days of the
show, and most exhibiting compa- It is time for action and to
nies shared with us that they were put environmental
pleased with the outcome. protection at the top of the
The quality of event was evident
in its infrastructure as well overall political agenda.We
branding of the show. participated in IFAT India
The rouble-table discussion of because we seek change,
industry leaders was a visible suc-
cess. and this trade fair was the
The conference sessions and perfect platform for that.
concurrent presentation forums
could have more speakers next Vijay Shivtare
year, though overall agenda of the Minister for Water Resources and Water
conference was impressive Conservation, Maharashtra
enough.
the event this year. ous water shortage of 2016, this product presentations and skills ‘Active Learning Centre’ was a
Some of the top participants year an exceptionally strong mon- contests, running parallel to the platform introduced to the partici-
included water & wastewater com- soon led to catastrophic flooding in show. pants of IFAT India 2016 that was
panies like L&T, Thermax, Ion large parts of India. Added to this is continued in 2017. This was the
Exchange, Ramky, Aqseptance the problem of waste blocking Environmental Technologies interactive element of the event. It
Group, Endress+Hauser, Excel, water flow in the sewers. Modern Conference offered innovative ways to network
Kirloskar Brothers, Kishor Pumps, solutions for efficient management This conference took place for with both visitors and other experts
Tata Projects, Wilo, Siemens, of water and sewage, and also sus- the first time at IFAT India and was of the environmental technologies
Lanxess, Astral Poly, Xylem, CRI tainable recycling technologies, organized by the think tank TERI - sector.
Pumps, LG Chem, Wipro Water, etc. were therefore in especially high The Energy and Resources The ‘Products in Practice’ ses-
China, Germany, Austria and demand at IFAT India 2017.” Institute. It focused on issues relat- sion provided exhibitors with an
Switzerland were the international ed to Air Pollution, Solid Waste interactive way to showcase their
country pavilions that were fea- Technology and Knowledge Ex- Management and Urban Water product highlights. The innovations
tured in this edition. change Across Borders Management in the context of were presented in a realistic work-
Apart from the new exhibitors, Not only Indian exhibitors were Sustainable Development. ing situation and impressed the vis-
there were also many companies there at the Bombay Exhibition This edition also witnessed a itors with an eye-catching experi-
that have participated since the Centre, in fact 54 percent of the new initiative - Business to ence.
very first IFAT India in 2013. companies were international Government Forum - which provid-
N.D. Mundhe, Chief Manager of brands - from 18 different coun- ed states an ideal platform to Organizer’s Opinion
Excel Industries, was one of them: tries. announce new projects, to find On the conclusion of IFAT India
“We have taken part in all five edi- Among the top exhibitor coun- matching solutions for new tenders 2017, Bhupinder Singh, CEO of
tions of IFAT India so far. For us tries were - after India: Germany, and to inform participants about Messe Muenchen India, said, “India
each year this fair is highly prof- China, Switzerland, Austria, and the the latest policies in the environ- has an immense potential for envi-
itable, but this year most particu- US (in this order). mental sector. Apart from industry ronmental protection and waste
larly so.” Christian Rocke, Exhibition leaders, it also attracted high-rank- management.
Philippe Anstotz, Executive Group Director of IFAT at Messe ing government representatives, Scarce water resources, rapid
Sales Director at the Aqseptence München, comments: “Especially in municipal corporations and politi- industrialization, extensive agricul-
Group, looked equally delighted: “It the environmental sector, interna- cal delegations. ture and enormous waste volumes
is impressive to see how strongly tional exchange and technology pose a great challenge to the coun-
the show has grown in the five transfer are necessary. Precisely Workshops & Concurrent Pro- try. Thus, the 5th edition of IFAT
years since launch, and how the that was our goal when we brought grams India focussed on the latest
quality has increased. It brings IFAT, the world´s leading environ- Along with the trade exhibition, environmental issues and their
together precisely the right audi- mental trade fair, to Mumbai five IFAT India with its partners, concur- solutions.
ence under one roof. In future, too, years ago. The high international rently organized some interactive IFAT India 2017 also provided a
we will not be missing out on IFAT participation in IFAT India 2017 has programs: Air Quality Management platform for all the industry play-
India.” shown us that we clearly succeed- Workshop by SDG (Sustainable ers, associations and government
ed in this.” Development Goals Foundation), representatives, to connect
In Demand: Efficient Water and The trade fair witnessed techni- Workshop on Entrepreneurship in through formal interactions. We
Waste Management cal presentations, panel discus- Waste Management by ISWA saw a great response from national
Bhupinder Singh, CEO of the sions and tutorials, where industry (International Solid Waste and international participants and
organizer Messe Muenchen India, experts - both from India and over- Association), Biogas Panel by GIZ, we hope to keep delivering a better
says, “The rise in visitor numbers - seas - shared their knowledge with German Biogas Association and trade show every year.”
an increase of 30 percent - was due the audience at the Innovation Indian Biogas Association, and The next IFAT India will take
to the urgent environmental chal- Exchange. Water Skills Competition by Skill place from October 15 to 17, 2018 at
lenges that the Indian population is There was also dedicated areas Council for Green Jobs, GIZ and the Bombay Exhibition Centre in
currently facing. Following the seri- for training, live demonstrations, DWA. Mumbai.
POSTEVENT
India Water Week 2017
The theme for the fifth edition of India Water Week was ‘Water and Energy for Sustainable
Growth’.
By Mayur Sharma
Inaugural Function
The President of India,
Shri Ram Nath Kovind,
inaugurated India Water
Week on October 10th, 2017
in New Delhi. Among the
dignitaries present on the
occasion were Union
Minister for the Water
Resources, River
Development and Ganga
Rejuvenation, Nitin
Gadkari; Union Minister for
Drinking Water and
Sanitation, Sushri Uma
Bharti; Minister of State for
The President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind at the inauguration of the India Water Week 2017. The Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development Water Resources, River
and Ganga Rejuvenation, Nitin Gadkari; the Union Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation, Sushri Uma Bharti; the Minister of State for Water Development and Ganga
Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Arjun Ram Meghwal and the Minister of State for Water Resources, River Development and Rejuvenation, Shri Arjun
Ganga Rejuvenation, Dr. Satya Pal Singh are also seen. Ram Meghwal; and Minister
of State for Water
Express Water View of the exhibition ground, International Partner of the Mecharronics were present Resources, River
The inaugural function overall it was less than event. to showcase their products Development & Ganga
and conference was well expected. In order to establish an and services. There was a Rejuvenation, Dr. Satya Pal
organized at Vigyan According to the organ- impactful international stall represented by Spain Singh.
Bhawan from 10-14 October izers, about 1300 delegates event focused on water as well at the expo. Other Speaking on the occa-
2017, and the B2B exhibi- including 50 delegates resources of India, the organizations like WAPCOS, sion, the President said that
tion (India Water Expo from 14 countries attended Ministry of Water NMCG, CWC, IWMI, currently, 80 percent of
2017), for around 42 water the 5-day event. About 150 Resources, River NABARD, NPCC, NEERI, water in India is used by
& wastewater companies papers were presented and Development and Ganga ISRO, NWDA, IRD Pune, agriculture and only 15 per-
and national and state-level 17 technical seminars and Rejuvenation, Government CGWB, and NIH Roorkee cent by industry. In the
government representa- 14 panel discussions were of India has been organizing were also present. coming years, this ratio will
tives, was organized in a held during the event. India Water Week since
hanger at Indira Gandhi 2012 as an annual interna-
National Centre of Arts, sit- The Event tional event. Four editions
uated near Vigyan Bhawan. This year, the India Water of India Water Week have
While the presence of Week’s theme was ‘water been organized so far in
cabinet ministers and key and energy for inclusive 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016.
government officials, and growth’ and the event will
more focus by the organiz- have the following major Exhibitors & Visitors
ers on the conference has components: Water, food Around 42 exhibitors
always been a highlight of and energy security - were present in the exhibi-
the India Water Week, the essential requirement for tion area. While the total
overall event still seems to sustainable development; exhibition area was around
be a work-in-progress. Water for inclusive growth; 2400 sq mtr, the allotted
The visitor presence was Sustainable energy devel- area to exhibitors was 1055
good on the first day of the opment - key for all-round sq mtr. Companies like DHI
exhibition, due of less num- economic growth; and India, Jain Irrigation,
ber of exhibitors and last water and society. Netafim, Tata Projects,
week change in the venue European Union was the Aaxis Nano, CH2M Hill,
“
need for inventing innova- sustainable management
tive methods for using of ground water.
70% of river water which
Around 285 new goes into seas. Valedictory Session
irrigation projects Union Minister for Addressing the valedic-
Drinking and Water tory session of IWW on 14th
will be taken up by Sanitation Sushri Uma October 2017, the Union
next year to provide Bharti in her address said Agriculture and Farmers’
irrigation for 1 crore that Government is sincere- Welfare Minister Radha
ly working to make avail- Mohan Singh said that the
88 lakh hectare of able safe drinking water to present government has
land. 27 irrigation every household of the achieved unparalleled suc-
projects will be country and irrigation facili- cess in the field of micro
ty for every farm by 2022. irrigation. Mr. Singh said
completed by the She said, “It is a matter of that 8 lakh hact. of land was
end of this year. 30 grave concern that ground brought under micro irriga-
projects related to water level is going down tion during 2016-17. The tar-
critically. We have misused get for 2017-18 is 12 lakh
inter-linking of rivers and abused ground water. hact. Referring to Pradhan
have also been We will have to respect Mantri Krishi Sinchayi
identified - they water, rivers and ground Yojana, the Minister said
water and make our rivers out of the 99 projects 23
require huge Aviral and Nirmal.” are on the verge of comple-
investments. Union Minister of State tion. He informed that
for Water Resources, River another 32 PMKSY project
Nitin Gadkari Development and Ganga will be completed by March
Union Minister for Water
Rejuvenation Arjun Ram next year and the remaining
Resources, River Development
change. The total demand Speaking on the occa- Meghwal said that 112 dis- by 2019.
& Ganga Rejuvenation
for water will also rise. sion, Union Minister of tricts in the country have A mobile app prepared
Efficiency of water use and Water Resources, River less than 20% irrigation by Central Water
reuse, therefore, has to be Development and Ganga coverage and time bound Commission, containing
built into the blueprint of Rejuvenation, Nitin Gadkari creating a large fund for actions are needed to meet various information about
industrial projects. He said said that 27 PMKSY proj- inter liking of rivers. He said the challenges of water water resources of the
that in urban India, 40 bil- ects will be completed by that new ways have to be scarcity and flood manage- country, was also launched
lion litres of wastewater is this year. He said that 285 found for use of treated ment. The Minister said on the occasion.
produced every day. It is new irrigation projects will wastewater. He said that he that the government has
vital to adopt technology to be taken up by next year to has requested the Power proposed National Ground
“
reduce the toxic content of provide irrigation for 1 crore Minister to explore the pos- Water Management
this water, and to deploy it 88 lakh hectare of land. He sibility of using recycled improvement scheme, a
for irrigation and other pur- said that the government is water for NTPC power world bank backed Rs.
poses. This has to be part of keen to provide safe drink- plants. He emphasized the 6,000 crore scheme, for Currently, 80
any urban planning pro- ing water to every house-
percent of water in
gramme. hold and irrigation water for
The President urged a every farm. In this connec- India is used by
water management tion, he referred to the agriculture and only
approach that is localized. recent inauguration of
15 percent by
He stated that it should Sardar Sarovar Project by
empower village and neigh- the Prime Minister, which industry. In the
bourhood communities and will provide water to over 4 coming years, this
build their capacity to man- crore people and help irri-
ratio will change.
age, allocate and value their gate over 8 lakh hectares of
water resources. Any 21st land. Efficiency of water
century water policy must Gadkari further said that use and reuse,
factor in the concept of the Inter linking of rivers is very
therefore, has to be
value of water. The important to save people
President said that the gov- from floods and droughts. built into the
ernment has prepared a He said 30 Projects for river blueprint of
strategic plan for ensuring linking have been approved
industrial projects.
drinking water supply in all out of which work on three
rural areas by 2022, when projects namely Ken- Business and
India complete 75 years of Betwa, Par- Tapi Narmada industry need to be a
Independence. By that year, and Daman Ganga Pinjal
part of the solution.
the goal is to cover 90 per- will start within three
cent of rural households months. The minister said Ram Nath Kovind
with piped water supply. We that the government is President of India
cannot fail. exploring the possibility of
MARKETREPORTS
GLOBALWATER & WASTEWATER TREATMENT MARKETTO REACH USD 674.72 BILLION BY 2025
THE GLOBAL WATER & waste- potable. Asia Pacific was the largest and commercial sector. middle class and rising incomes,
water treatment market is expect- market accounting for 43.9% of the Central & South America water will continue to drive demand agri-
ed to reach USD 674.72 billion by revenue share in 2016. It is antici- & wastewater industry is capable, cultural resources and commodi-
2025, driven by the rising demand pated to gain momentum over the but absence of significant venture ties.
for freshwater for drinking, indus- forecast period on account of grow- in infrastructure is unfavorable for The global equipment & services
trialization and agriculture, as per a ing demand for filtered water for its economic performance. Asia market accounted for USD 117.85
new report done by Hexa Research. various applications. Pacific municipal water & waste- billion in 2016.
Treated water is suitable for var- Water treatment systems are water market is likely to grow at a The growth of equipment & serv-
ious end-uses such as river flow either installed at the point of use CAGR of 5.3% over the forecast ices market is likely to gain momen-
maintenance, drinking, the supply or the point of entry. However, as period. This market has been rapid- tum in recent future, as it utilizes
of industrial water and irrigation. drinking water is a vital priority for ly growing owing to presence of environment-friendly and economi-
Water & wastewater treatment population, residential sector con- developing economies and a large cally feasible instruments and tech-
processes such as softening, tributes significantly towards the concentration of population in the nologies. Major players in flow con-
deodorization and purification development of water treatment region. Asia Pacific’s vast and rising trol services are acquiring firms in
make the water more useful and market as compared to industrial population, coupled with increasing the treatment market.
THE NEWLY CON- elevation of 1150 meters. of this water distribution water and ensure a stable tion determined need for a
STRUCTED Zhijin power The water first travels up to system makes it vulnerable flow of water regardless of control valve after pump
plant in China’s Guizhou a water treatment plant, to surges and pipe breaks. flow rates that vary accord- with a surge anticipating
province gets its water and then on to a water tank, The Design Institute ing to power production relief valve mounted in a
from the Hongjiadu reser- where supply can be con- called on Singer Valve to needs. tee, downstream of pump
voir and transports it 8.1 trolled before it is gravity determine what technolo- The first stage involves check valve. This is
km over mountainous ter- fed down to the plant. The gies could be put in to place pumping water from a designed to anticipate
rain with an approximate high lift and long distance to safely transport the floating dock and trans- surges and avoid severe
porting it by two DN600 water hammer often asso-
pipelines to the water
“
treatment plant. To regu-
late surging when starting
or shutting down the pump,
two surge anticipating relief
We knew it was going
valves were installed on the to be very challenging
dock. to transport the water
These two valves can be
opened before the surge
to the power plant
comes and relieve the pres- safely with the
sure from the pipe. This is elevations and
especially important if
there is a power failure and
distance that it
water rushes back down to needed to travel.
the pump station. An added Singer’s surge
precaution to prevent
surges was to install air
anticipating plan and
valves on the pipeline to quality valves gave us
release any trapped air the confidence to
from the pipe.
After the water is treat-
complete this project.
ed, it is pumped to a water
Liu Zhizhao
tank. With a 340 meter Manager, Zhijin Power Plant,
Two Surge Anticipating Relief Valves on the Dock pump head, surge calcula- China
“
The time it took to gather has installed more than nology. servation and combatting
usage data was not most 7,000 new residential and the drought. Continuous
frustrating aspect though. commercial meters. With a In addition, EMWD uses usage reports identify con- We have a
“EMWD has a responsibility growing number of cus- FlexNet to: sumers with high consump-
to implement industry-lead- tomers to gather data from • Collect accurate data in a tion levels. EMWD staff initi- responsibility to
ing technologies that create each month and California's timely manner ates contact via phone call, implement industry-
an efficient environment and ongoing drought creating • Generate reports for cus- email or text message to leading technologies
empower customer to con- new regulatory challenges, tomers inform the customer of ele-
serve water," said David the organization needed to • Analyze usage vated usage and encourages that create an efficient
Gayneaux, manager, meter conserve time and water. • Improve operational effi- them to repair the issue. To environment and
services, Eastern Municipal ciency date, 2,600 customers have empower the customer
Water District (EMWD). “By Data Needed to Conserve • Conserve water been contacted regarding
doing so, we are able to limit Resources continuous usage at their to conserve water.
water lost to leaks in an eco- To increase efficiency, Remote Meter Reading residence. 2,300 of these
nomically responsible man- EMWD invested in new Leads to New Opportunities customers no longer show David Gayneaux
Manager, Meter Services,
ner." To provide their grow- processes to read meters. To Without FlexNet, EMWD signs of leaks. “With FlexNet,
Eastern Municipal Water
ing customer base with the conserve water, the utility leaders estimate it would we are able to alert users if
District, California, USA
NAMAMI GANGE
Total 34 projects worth Rs. 3581 crore were sanctioned for cleaning Ganga between 2008-
2014, while 56 projects worth Rs 9630 crore have been approved since 2014 till date.
EW News Bureau ate and maintain the total sewage river Ganga through Varuna and Upcoming STP Projects: UP,
treatment capacity of 82 MLD (68 Assi rivers. To bridge this gap, a 140 Bihar and West Bengal
NMCG Approves 8 Projects MLD in Jagjeetpur & 14 MLD in MLD STP at Dinapur and a 120 MLD The upcoming sewage treat-
Worth Over Rs. 700 Crore Sarai) STPs in Haridwar at an esti- STP at Goitha are being construct- ment projects which have
National Mission for Clean mated cost of Rs 171.53 crore. ed under Japan International co- already been sanctioned
Ganga (NMCG) has approved eight Rs 213.62 Crore for Sewage operation Agency (JICA) assisted under HAM are STPs at Naini,
projects worth Rs. 700 crore, out of Treatment Related Works project and JNNURM scheme Jhusi, and Phaphamau at
which four pertain to sewage man- Sewage treatment related works respectively. These projects are at Allahabad (72 MLD), STPs at
Unnao, Shuklaganj, and
agement in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar at an estimated cost of Rs 213.62 advanced stage of construction Bithoor along with Kanpur
and West Bengal, three are related crore have been approved that and will be commissioned before (21.4 MLD), STPs at Digha and
to treatment of drains through bio- include construction of two STPs March 2018. Apart from this, a 50 Kankarbagh in Bihar (150),
remediation and one of inventor- (28 MLD + 05 MLD) in Farrukabad MLD STP at Ramana has also been STPs at Kolkata and Howrah
ization and surveillance of river and one 2 MLD STP at Bargadiya awarded under Hybrid Annuity (141 MLD) STPs at Farukhabad
Ganga. Three projects of treatment drain in Fatehpur. Pollution abate- based PPP model to exclusively (30 MLD), STP at Bhagalpur
of drains using bio-remediation ment works for river Ganga like address sewage treatment require- (65 MLD). Tender documents
technology have also been given a interception, diversion and treat- ments of Assi BHU area. Together, for 10 of these projects are
green signal at an estimated cost of ment of sewage in Bithoor have these STPs will create sewage being prepared. NMCG has
also appointed strategic con-
Rs. 4.29 crore. These are for also been approved at an estimat- treatment capacity of 412 MLD,
sultants for PPP design and
Rajapur drain and Digha drain in ed cost of Rs 13.40 crore. adequate to meet sewage treat- transaction advisory support
Patna and Laksar drain in Haridwar. Special Focus on River ment demands of the town till for integration of sewage
Pollution in Varanasi 2035. treatment infrastructure in
WEST BENGAL Varanasi town currently gener- Kanpur, Allahabad, Patna and
Rs. 200.07 Crore Project for ates an estimated 300 MLD of BIHAR Kolkata.
Pollution Abatement sewage, which is expected to A total of 29 projects worth
For sewage management, a proj- Rs.4929.17 crore are under various tation, out of which two - Digha and
ect for pollution abatement in river Biggest Source of Pollution stages of implementation in Bihar Kankarbagh sewerage zones -
Ganga at Bally in West Bengal has for Ganga: 3000 MLD under Namami Gange Programme. worth Rs. 1402.89 crore are sanc-
been approved at an estimated Sewage from 97 Cities Foundation Laid for 4 New tioned under Hybrid Annuity-based
cost of Rs. 200.07 crore that would As per the Union Minister of Sewerage Projects Costing Rs. PPP mode. The existing population
include construction of a 40 MLD Water Resources, River 738.04 Crore in the city is 16,83,000 and the
STP under Hybrid Annuity based Development and Ganga Prime Minister Shri Narendra existing sewage generated in the
PPP model among other works. Rejuvenation, Nitin Gadkari, Modi recently laid foundation stone city is 220 MLD and sewage load is
about 3000 MLD sewage from for four sewerage projects costing expected to be 320 MLD by the
97 cities on its banks are the
UTTAR PRADESH biggest source of pollution for
Rs. 738.04 crore. These projects year 2035. Compared to existing
India’s First Sewage Treatment Ganga. Of this, 1750 MLD include Sewage Treatment Plant at sewage generation, the existing
Plant (STP) under Hybrid sewage comes from just 10 Beur, Sewerage System with Sewer sewage treatment capacity is only
Annuity Mode in Haridwar and cities. 34 projects worth Rs. Network at Beur, Sewage 109 MLD. A total of 11 projects
Varanasi 3581 crore had been sanc- Treatment Plant at Karmalichak under World Bank funding are
In the first-of-its-kind success, tioned for Ganga cleaning and STP and Sewer Network at sanctioned for six zones which will
creation and maintenance of between 2008-2014, while 56 Saidpur. These projects together create a total of 350 MLD of STP
sewage treatment infrastructure projects worth Rs 9630 crore will create new STP capacity of 120 capacity and will lay down 1140.26
under Hybrid Annuity based PPP have been approved since MLD and upgrade the existing 20 km of sewerage network at a cost
model has taken off, with NMCG 2014 till date. Mentioning that MLD for Beur. This also includes of Rs. 3582.41crore. After comple-
18 of these projects are ready,
awarding work to private sector for sewer network of 234.84 km in tion of these 11 projects, Patna will
Gadkari has said the other
construction and maintenance of projects will also be done by Beur and Saidpur zones. become a town having 100% sew-
Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) in March 2019. He has also said Rs 268.49 Crore Approved for erage infrastructure and no sewage
two major cities in Ganga river that a committee headed by 65 MLD STP in Bhagalpur water will drain into River Ganga.
basin - Varanasi and Haridwar. MoS Dr. Satya Pal Singh will Construction of a 65 MLD STP Rs 3.96 Crore & Rs. 24.92
While the work to construct, oper- monitor the projects on a under Hybrid Annuity model has Crore River Surface Cleaning
ate and maintain a 50 MLD STP in monthly basis. been approved for Bhagalpur in Projects in Patna
Varanasi has been awarded to a Bihar at an estimated project cost One river surface cleaning proj-
consortium led by Indian infra- increase to 390 MLD by 2030. of Rs 268.49 crore. ect worth Rs. 3.96 crore and two
structure major - Essel Infra From current capacity of 3 existing Patna to Become a Town afforestation projects worth Rs.
Projects Limited at an estimated sewage treatment plants - Dinapur, Having 100% Sewerage 24.92 crore are under implementa-
cost of Rs 153.16 crore, HNB Bhagwanpur and DLW, only 102 Infrastructure tion in Patna. Under the river sur-
Engineers Private Ltd. has been MLD of sewage is being treated In Patna, 7 sewerage projects face cleaning project, a trash skim-
awarded the work to develop, oper- while remaining flows directly into are at various stages of implemen- mer has been deployed.