EDITOR’S NOTE

Nature for Water

The theme for World Water Day 2018 is ‘Nature
for Water’. Activities focused on it will be organized
world over to explore and discuss the nature-based
solutions to the water challenges which we are facing
in the 21st century. According to UN Water, currently,
2.1 billion people are living without safe drinking water
- which is not only a serious concern for their health -
but their education and livelihood as well.
In this issue, we have also explored the impact of
nature on water, and their relation. Restoring urban
wetlands should be one of the priorities to balance
our water cycle and avoid flood-like situations. Cre-
ating a green water and wastewater infrastructure is
another priority which should seamlessly merge with
the grey infrastructure wherever possible. The rejuve-
nation and restoration of our rivers, lakes, ponds, and
other natural water resources are also significant.
Reconnecting our rivers to the floodplains is also nec-
essary.
Although the clock is ticking, there is still some
time left to do our bit, so that our next generations
would not inherit the cities like Cape Town (South
Africa) which could be the world’s first city to run out
of the water. This would mean that the city’s popula-
tion of 4 million people will not have access to run-
ning water anymore this year. The day has been nick-
named as ‘Day Zero’ and is being discussed
everywhere.
Only four years ago, Cape Town’s six major water
reservoirs with a capacity of 230 billion gallons were
full. But three consecutive years of low-rainfall (a
third of normal levels) with continuously increasing
population, have dramatically reduced the water lev-
els of dams. As of January 29, 2018, NASA reported
that the reservoirs are at just 26%, with the largest
“All the lessons are in
nature.You look at the way
rocks are formed - the wind
and the water hitting them,
shaping them,making
them what they are.Things
take time,you know?”
- Diane Lane
reservoir at only 13% capacity. As per World Water
Council, their 4 million residents must reduce their
water usage to just 50 liters per day. The magnitude of
this drought in Cape Town’s is a once in every 300
years event.
What is even more frightening is the fact that
Cape Town is not the only city facing the threat of
such a water crisis. Cities in India, Brazil, Indonesia,
Mexico, Australia, USA, and Italy are currently facing
severe water shortages and could even be the next in
line if we do not change the way we see water - as an
abundant and unlimited source to waste away. If we go
by the predictions of WWC, by 2030, the world will
face a 40% global water deficit under the business-
as-usual climate scenario, and by 2050, over 40% of
the world population will be subject to severe water
stress.
The most important and simple lesson for us then
is to stop neglecting our ecosystem and start mak-
ing amends for whatever we have done till now.
As we gear up for our first event in the water sec-
tor - Express Water ‘Jal Sabha’ (8-10 March, Pune) - a
forum exclusively for the heads of the water supply
and sewage departments of Municipal Corporations
- a gathering of 50 delegates from municipal organiza-
tions across India has confirmed their participation.
It will be a unique platform for the audience to come
together to debate and discuss issues faced by the
corporations around water supply and sewage, 24x7
water supply, smart metering, and STPs (their fi-
nancing, and decentralized STPs), among others.
MAYUR SHARMA
Editor
mayur.sharma@expressindia.com
@TheExpressWater

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EXPRESS WATER February, 2018 3

 CONTENTS
Vol 01 No 3 February 2018 Pages 52 COLUMNS
Chairman of the Board

Viveck Goenka
Sr Vice President - BPD
10 URBAN WATER
By Robert Brears

Neil Viegas WATER WISE

Editor 11 By WaterAid
Mayur Sharma*
KNOWING OUR WATERS
DESIGN 12 By Australian Water
Partnership (AWP)
National Design Editor

Bivash Barua
Assistant Art Director

Pravin Temble OUT OF THE BOX

Chief Designer

Prasad Tate
Senior Designer
36 DO WE REALLY KNOW OUR
WATER?

Rekha Bisht DROUGHT-PROOFING

Graphic Designer 38 AUSTRALIA…THE POSSIBLE
DREAM?
Gauri Deorukhkar

DIGITAL TEAM

Head of Internet

Viraj Mehta
CASE STUDY
Web Developer

Dhaval Das 40 POWERCHINA ZHONGNAN

STANDARDIZES 3D
COLLABORATIVE DESIGN
Senior Executive - Online

NATURE FOR WATER

OF WATER PROJECTS,
Pushkar Worlikar
BECOMING 50% MORE
Executive - Online EFFICIENT
Salil Sule Bentley’s 3D technology
reduces wastewater treat-
SCHEDULING & COORDINATION ment plant design costs by 30
Santosh Lokare percent.
Photo Editor
Exploring the theme of this year’s World Water Day (22
SONNEBERG SEWAGE
Sandeep Patil March)…how we can use nature to overcome the water 44 TREATMENT PLANT IN

MARKETING
challenges of the 21st century. GERMANY ENJOYS
GREATER PLANNING
Kailash Shirodkar RELIABILITY FOR ITS BELT
PRESS
CIRCULATION

Mohan Varadakar
17-34 Besides the four central STPs,
Sonneberg Waterworks also
operate eight small biological
PRODUCTION plants, and thereby cover an
General Manager THE SECOND OPINION: IMPACT OF GST area of around 150 square
miles.
B R Tipnis
Manager

Bhadresh Valia
13
IMPLICATIONS OF
GST ON WATER 14
WATER MANAGEMENT:
RE-INVIGORATING MARKET
Express Water® PROJECTS INCLUSIVE GROWTH
WITH GST
RNI NO. MAHENG-14351. Printed by The
Indian Express (P) Ltd. and published by
48 DAY ZERO LOOMS FOR
CAPE TOWN AS SOUTH
AFRICAN CITY PREPARES
Ms Vaidehi Thakar on behalf of The TO TURN OFF TAPS
Indian Express Press, Plot No. EL-208,
TTC Industrial Area, Mahape, Navi
Mumbai - 400710 and Published from
49 WATER UTILITIES
CAPITALIZE ON HYDRAULIC
MODELING TO MINIMIZE
Express Towers, 1st Floor, Nariman
Point, Mumbai - 400021. (Editorial &
P03 : EDITOR’S NOTE TOTEX, REDUCE RISK, AND
MITIGATE WATER LOSS
Administrative Offices: Express Towers,
1st Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai – P15 : PRODUCTS
400021)

Copyright © 2017
The Indian Express (P) Limited. All rights reserved throughout the world. Reproduction in any manner, electronic or otherwise, in whole or in part, without prior written permission is prohibited.
*Responsible for selection of news under PRB Act

4 February, 2018 EXPRESS WATER

 IN THE NEWS
TATA Projects and Israel's Watergen Enter
an MoU to Extract Drinking Water from Air
The partnership will run a pilot program to provide solution for clean and safe drinking water in India
EW Staff
India
I S R A E L - B A S E D
WATERGEN and India's
TATA Projects Limited have
signed a memorandum of
understanding. The intent of
the MoU is to help solve
India's drinking water chal-
lenge, by providing safe, clean
and cost-efficient drinking
water across India. The MoU
seeks to create a mutual enti-
ty in India, to manage local
AquaVenture Holdings to Acquire
Majority Interest in Desalination
Plant in Ghana
EW Staff
USA
A Q U AV E N T U R E
HOLDINGS Limited has
entered into a binding agree-
ment with Abengoa Water,
S.L.U. to purchase a majority
interest in a desalination plant
in Accra, Ghana. The plant
has the capacity to deliver
approximately 18.5 million gal-
lons (60,000 m3) per day of
potable water to Ghana Water
Company Limited under a
long-term, U.S. dollar-denomi-
nated water purchase agree-
ment. The facility has been
operational since 2015 and,
through its customer, supplies
water to approximately
500,000 residents of Accra.
6 February, 2018
operations and manufacture
Watergen units in India. This
process will provide local and
regional drinking water sup-
ply when needed, as well as
the deployment of a distrib-
uted water grid chain across
the country.
Watergen's revolutionary
technology is an immediate,
quick, permanent, low cost,
energy efficient, accessible,
clean and safe drinking 'water
from the air' solution for
India. Watergen's large-scale
The base purchase price for
this interest is approximately
$26 million, subject to adjust-
ment in accordance with the
purchase agreement.
Completion of the purchase,
which is expected to occur by
the end of the second quarter
of 2018, is subject to the satis-
faction of certain conditions
precedent.
Doug Brown, Chairman,
and CEO of AquaVenture
Holdings, commented: "We
are excited about this project.
This will be our first desalina-
tion plant in Africa. The acqui-
sition will expand our base of
facilities that provide WAAS
solutions to our customers.
We look forward to working
with the project stakeholders
AWG unit produces up to
6,000 liters of water from the
air every day, while the medi-
um scale AWG unit produces
in completing the various con-
ditions to closing and becom-
ing a long-term partner to the
Government of Ghana for
water treatment and servic-
es."
The company has also
entered into an agreement to
purchase an SWRO desalina-
tion plant in Long Island, The
Bahamas for a purchase price
of approximately $3.0 million,
subject to adjustment in
accordance with the purchase
agreement. The plant has the
capacity to deliver approxi-
mately 200 thousand gallons
per day of potable water to the
Water and Sewage
Corporation of The Bahamas
under a long-term water pur-
chase agreement.
up to 600 liters of water every
day. A pilot program is
planned to utilize the mid-size
GEN-350G unit.
PUB Drives Innovations
for Water Sustainability
EW Staff
Singapore
SINGAPORE’S NATIONAL
WATER Agency PUB has
launched three Requests for
Proposals (RFPs) to invite
industry technology providers
and researchers to develop
solutions that will improve the
effectiveness of water treat-
ment processes and opera-
tions, and ensure water sus-
tainability.
Water demand is expected
to double by 2060, with the
non-domestic sector making
up 70% of demand then. More
energy-intensive sources such
as NEWater and desalinated
water will meet up to 85% of
Singapore’s water needs then
too. It is important to maxi-
mize water efficiency and
lower energy use in water and
used water treatment.
Dr. Michael Mirilashvili
explained, "Watergen is proud
to be a partner in the long-
standing and fruitful co-oper-
ation between Israel and
India. We thank TATA
Projects and TATA Trusts for
their commitment to improv-
ing the quality of life for the
citizens of India. Together,
Watergen and TATA Projects
can now provide clean and
safe drinking water from the
air, immediately and perma-
nently.”
The first RFP targets spe-
cific technologies in enhanc-
ing energy efficiency of water
and used water treatment
process. For water treatment,
it aims to reduce energy con-
sumption of desalination and
NEWater through biomimicry.
The second RFP aims to
enhance water efficiency in
industries through water
recycling or reducing water
consumption. Proposals are to
be submitted by the industrial
or commercial host, in collab-
oration with an identified
technology provider.
The third RFP looks at
enhancing operational effi-
ciency by leveraging on smart
technologies such as robotics,
drones, automation, data ana-
lytics and informatics, and
video analytics, to minimize
manpower required for opera-
tions and maintenanc
EXPRESS WATER
 IN THE NEWS
SPML Infra JV Secures Order for Irrigation
Project in Ghana
Mayur Sharma
Kolkata
SPML INFRA LIMITED
with its joint venture partner
OM Metals Infraprojects has
secured an international
order from Ministry of Food
and Agriculture, Republic of
Ghana for the work related to
rehabilitation and completion
of Kpong left bank irrigation
project in Ghana, Africa for
Rs. 205 crore.
SPML Infra Q3 Profit
Rises to 2376% to
8.39 Crore
Mayur Sharma
Kolkata
SPML INFRA LIMITED has
declared the financial results
for the Q3 period ended
December 31, 2017. Q3 Net
Profit Rises to 2376% to 8.39
Crore on a Net Sale of INR
344 Crore.
The consolidated EBITDA
for Q3FY18 stands at INR
75.67 Cr against INR 49.47 Cr
in Q3FY17, up 53%. The con-
solidated Q3FY18 net profit up
2376% at INR 8.39 Cr against
loss of INR -0.37 in Q3FY17.
And the consolidated net prof-
it margin stands at 2%
Q3FY18. For 9MFY18 vs
9MFY17, the consolidated
9MFY18 Net Profit up 592% at
INR 23.53 Cr against INR -4.78
Cr in 9MFY17, and the consol-
idated net profit margin
stands at 3% in 9MFY18.
Subhash Sethi, Chairman,
SPML Infra commented, “Our
concentrated efforts towards
8 February, 2018
consolidation of our finances
with prudent strategies and
resource optimization meas-
ures have helped us in focus-
ing more on project execution
and winning new projects. We
expect the next wave of
growth will be coming from
water, irrigation and power
transmission & distribution
sector with the government
targeting to achieve 100%
electrification within 2018. We
are focusing to complete our
40 ongoing projects in water
and power segments and
enhancing the order book in
these two areas. We are also
expecting a number of arbitra-
tion awards in next quarter
and in next fiscal that will fur-
ther consolidate our finan-
cials. I am hopeful that the
next quarter will be much bet-
ter in terms of sales, improved
profitability, project gains and
we will be in a better position
to declare good benefits to our
shareholders.”
The scope of work includes
modification of existing sup-
ply canal, main canal, cross
regulators and installation of
new distribution structures.
This World Bank funded proj-
ect has a timeline of 18 months
to complete. The Letter of
Intent (LoI) received by the
JV last week and the projects
will be executed within the
given period.
Subhash Sethi, Chairman,
SPML Infra, commented, “We
ACCIONABuilds Largest Desalination
Plant for Industrial Use in the
Mediterranean,in Italy
The plant will be operated by ACCIONA Agua for the
next six years, with an estimated daily production of
12,000 m3.
EW Staff
Italy
ACCIONA AGUA HAS com-
pleted the construction of a
desalination plant that will
provide high-quality deminer-
alized water to the Sarlux
refinery (part of the Italian
energy group Saras Spa),
located in Sarroch, near
Cagliari, in Sardinia (Italy).
The contract, worth 22 mil-
lion euros, includes design and
construction of the desalina-
tion plant as well as operation
are delighted with the new
order from Ghana. This is the
second order from African
countries after we received an
order from Rwanda last year.
It is an opportunity for both
SPML Infra and OM Metals to
become a reliable partner for
the sustainable infrastructure
development in Ghana and
other African countries. We
are sure that our rich experi-
ence in drinking water man-
agement and irrigation will
and maintenance for six years,
with a possible three-year
extension.
The plant has a daily pro-
duction capacity of 12,000 m3
of demineralized water
through such processes as
ultrafiltration, reverse osmo-
sis and electrodeionization.
The treated water will be used
in industrial processes carried
out by the Italian energy com-
pany at its refinery near
Cagliari (Sardinia), one of the
largest and most complex
facilities of its type in Europe.
With a total footprint of
approximately 1,260 m2, it is
the largest desalination plant
for industrial use in the
Mediterranean. In the design
and construction of the plant,
ACCIONA Agua incorporated
solutions that minimize envi-
help us in delivering the proj-
ects on time with excellence in
execution and EPC services.
We are committed to a long-
term association with African
countries to provide complete
EPC solutions for water and
power projects combining
customized engineering, pro-
curement, project manage-
ment using modern technolo-
gies, meeting timelines and
conforming to international
safety standards.”
ronmental impact, costs and
installation times, and
improve efficiency in overall
operation by reducing pres-
sure losses and significantly
optimizing energy consump-
tion, among other factors.
ACCIONA Agua currently
has a portfolio of more than 40
projects in Italy, including
drinking water, desalination,
and wastewater treatment
plants. It provides services to
more than 2.5 million people
in Italy and has 345 employees
in the country. The company
was recently awarded a con-
tract to maintain and upgrade
water and sewage networks in
several municipalities . Recent
landmark projects include
upgrading the Florence drink-
ing water treatment plant
(one of the largest in Italy).
EXPRESS WATER
 IN THE NEWS
ANDRITZ to Supply
Irrigation Pumps for Egypt
EW Staff
Egypt
ANDRITZ HAS RECEIVED
an order from CONCORD for
Engineering and Contracting,
Cairo, Egypt, to supply 17 ver-
tical line shaft pumps, includ-
ing a set of spare parts, for a
pumping station providing the
water supply to the Nubaria
irrigation canal, located south
of the city of Alexandria. The
start-up is scheduled for 2018.
The pumps supplied will be
individually adapted to the
customer’s specifications and
achieve an aggregate flow rate
of 11.7 m3/second. Each pump
achieves a head of 28 meters
at a shaft power of 222 kW.
Decisive in the award of the
contract to ANDRITZ were
the special technical features
and the low life-cycle costs of
Grundfos India Launches ‘SmArt
Serv’, a Mobile App to Enhance
Customer Service
Mayur Sharma
Chennai
Grundfos India has
launched a mobile application
called ‘SmArt Serv’. This
service app provides an effec-
tive way of getting service
support for any Grundfos
product.
Through this app, one can
locate the nearest service
provider, fill in the details of
the complaint/request, attach
a picture of the pump/system
and raise a service request.
An acknowledgment of the
request will be received within
four hours. For digital pumps,
the service provider will try to
fix the problem online by pro-
EXPRESS WATER
the ANDRITZ pumps as well
as the many years of experi-
ence that ANDRITZ has in
this sector, with numerous ref-
erences in the Middle East
and Africa. ANDRITZ first
supplied irrigation pumps and
equipment to these regions
back in the 1960s.
viding remote assistance. For
other pumps, the service
provider will deploy one of the
service engineers to the site.
Normally, the complaints/
requests will be resolved with-
in three days.
Throwing light on such a
customer-centric app,
Saravanan Panneer Selvam,
Chief Sales Officer, Grundfos
India, said “The philosophy
behind Grundfos Service has
always been to provide a little
extra.”
“The launch of the SmArt
Serv app is yet another effort
to strengthen our commit-
ment to providing fast and
transparent service support
to our customers”.
Gradiant Corporation’s
Momentum Continues with
Asia Expansion
The water treatment innovator secures new partner to
expedite commercialization.
EW Staff
USA
GRADIANT CORPORATION,
PROVIDING solutions for
industrial wastewater treat-
ment and desalination, has
unveiled significant milestones
achieved in 2017 that set the
stage for continued growth and
expansion throughout 2018.
Last year, Gradiant focused its
attention on the growing $500
million wastewater desalination
and zero liquid discharge mar-
ket in Asia. The company
secured contracts in China and
India using their patented
humidification - dehumidifica-
tion (HDH) process to trans-
Black& Veatch and EMS Cognito Join Forces to
Deliver UtilityAsset ReliabilityProgrammes
EW Staff
UK
WELL MANAGED ASSETS
are central to reduced risk,
and outperformance of opera-
tional and financial targets. To
help utilities achieve world-
class asset management Black
& Veatch and EMS Cognito
have teamed-up to offer
bespoke Lean Reliability
Centred Maintenance (RCM)
programmes and training.
"What sets Black & Veatch
apart is the ability to support
form complex waste streams
from power generation and tex-
tile manufacturing into fresh,
reusable water.
Gradiant has now announced
their latest collaboration with
Hong Kong based Esquel Group,
the world’s largest woven shirt
manufacturer. With production
facilities in China, Malaysia,
Mauritius, Sri Lanka and
Vietnam, the Esquel Group is
one of the most dynamic global-
scale textile and apparel manu-
facturers. The partnership will
allow Gradiant to expedite com-
mercialization of their advanced
water treatment solutions with-
in the textile market.
Gradiant’s HDH system
every point in the lifecycle of
utilities' assets. Becoming an
authorized provider of EMS
Cognito's IMPACT
Masterclass™ Lean RCM
Programme extends our
reach further into the asset
management sphere," com-
mented Scott Aitken,
Managing Director, Black &
Veatch Europe.
Lean RCM focusses on
what a process is intended to
do, identifying factors that
stop the process from deliver-
ing, then implementing steps
removes harmful pollutants to
recover clean water. This evap-
orator alternative mimics
nature’s rain cycle to reduce the
cost of treatment by as much as
50 percent. Gradiant first
demonstrated the process at
full-scale in 2013 treating pro-
duced water from North
American oil and gas explo-
ration and production.
“At Gradiant, we help indus-
trial water users minimize their
cost of treatment and their
impact on the environment,”
said Anurag Bajpayee, CEO of
Gradiant Corporation. “We look
forward to working with the
Esquel Group to support their
goals.”
to mitigate those factors; cre-
ating a condition-based
regime for asset maintenance.
"Our IMPACT
Masterclass™ Lean RCM
Programme has been adopted
across many industries. This
agreement with Black &
Veatch is an opportunity to
introduce our accredited
process improvement pro-
gramme to additional water
and energy companies,"
according to Richard Kelly,
Managing Director, EMS
Cognito.
February, 2018 9
 COLUMN
Smart Water,Smart Metering
Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), or ‘smart meters’, is a two-way solution in which a
network is created between the meters and the utility’s Information System. In this network,
smart meters not only allow for remote meter reading but also allow high-resolution
consumption data to be sent to the customer.
By Robert C Brears
Robert C Brears
WITH RAPID URBANIZA-
TION and growing water
scarcity from climate change,
cities are being challenged to
deliver water as efficiently as
possible as well as balance ris-
ing demand with limited sup-
plies. To manage limited
water supplies efficiently,
cities and their water utilities
are turning to Information
and Communication
Technologies (ICT).
There are two beneficial
aspects of turning to ICT solu-
tions to ensure the efficient
use of precious supplies. First,
ICT can reduce water losses
in the system - non-revenue
water - which is the difference
between what is pumped,
treated, and supplied to the
distribution system compared
to what reaches customers: in
many cities around the world,
non-revenue water can be up
to 20% or more of the total. On
the demand side, ICT can be
used to enhance demand man-
agement strategies, where
demand management involves
the better use of existing
water supplies before plans
are made to further increase
10 February, 2018
supply. Specifically, demand
management promotes water
conservation both in times of
normal and atypical condi-
tions through changes in peo-
ple’s practices, culture, and
attitudes towards water
resources.
Smart Meters are Key
A key part of the ICT net-
work is smart meters, which
enable water utilities to con-
duct regular meter reads of
customers throughout the
day, provide customers with
real-time water consumption
data, as well as quickly detect
water losses in the system.
Currently, many cities are
using Automatic Meter
Readers (AMR), which are
‘one-way’ automated meter
readers that send water usage
data back to the utility. In con-
trast, Advanced Metering
Infrastructure (AMI), or
‘smart meters’, is a two-way
solution in which a network is
created between the meters
and the utility’s Information
System. In this network,
smart meters not only allow
for remote meter reading but
also allow high-resolution con-
sumption data to be sent to
the customer. This data can be
used to raise awareness of
water consumption and allow
customers to develop their
own strategies to reduce
water usage.
Benefits of Smart Meters
From the water utility’s
side, smart meters provide
multiple benefits including
leak detection, energy reduc-
tion, demand forecasting,
enhanced awareness cam-
paigns, promotion of efficient
appliances, and performance
indicators. From the cus-
tomer’s side, smart meters
can provide information on
when/where is water being
used, comparisons of own
water use against other cus-
tomers, and quick leak detec-
tion. Smart apps can also be
developed for customers, so
they can, for example, com-
pare their water usage with
neighbours in the same street
or suburb, compare water
consumption with standard
profiles (consumers with the
same socio-demographic fac-
tors), compare their water
consumption with the most
efficient users in the city, or
forecast their next water bill.
Some leading examples of
cities implementing smart
meters to ensure the efficient
management of scarce water
include Dubai, Singapore, and
San Francisco.
Smart Dubai
To ensure the rational use
of water, Dubai Electricity and
Water Authority (DEWA) is
installing smart meters across
the Emirate enabling cus-
tomers to receive real-time
information on water con-
sumption. In addition to pro-
viding current data, DEWA’s
smart meters will provide cus-
tomers will historical data as
well as a breakdown of con-
sumption processes that use
water. This will help cus-
tomers identify water efficien-
cies in their homes. The smart
meter data is delivered to cus-
tomers via DEWA’s Smart
App, allowing them to view
billing information, graphs to
check and compare consump-
tion, as well as set caps for
water consumption. Overall,
DEWA aims to have 1.2 million
smart meters installed by
2020, covering the whole
Emirate and replacing all
mechanical and electro-
mechanical meters.
Smart Meter Trials in Sin-
gapore
Singapore’s Public Utilities
Board (PUB) is trialing a
smart water network in which
the utility will collect detailed
data on household water con-
sumption to build customer
consumption profiles and
identify consumption patterns
and trends. The data will then
be analyzed and provided to
customers enabling them to
monitor their water usage
patterns and better manage
water consumption. PUB will
also customize its engagement
strategy by incentivizing cus-
tomers to conserve water, for
instance, setting water saving
goals and tracking efficiency
of their water usage based on
their consumption profiles.
This is part of an experiment
to see if elements of game
playing are more effective at
engaging and motivating cus-
tomers to conserve water
than increasing tariffs.
San Francisco’s Auto-
mated Water Meters
San Francisco Public
Utilities Commission
(SFPUC) has installed auto-
mated water meters in more
than 96% of San Francisco’s
178,000 water accounts. The
smart meters transmit hourly
water consumption data to
the utility’s billing system by a
wireless network. The meter
readings received by SFPUC
URBAN WATER
identify every cubic foot of
water used each hour (where
one cubic foot is equal to
around 28 liters). The reliable
and frequent water usage
information allows customers
to monitor their use and
detect leaks faster than possi-
ble compared to the manually-
read meters. SFPUC has also
created the web portal My
Account in which account
holders can download detailed
daily and monthly water
usage data and learn ways to
conserve water. SFPUC also
uses the hourly water con-
sumption data to notify resi-
dential single-family cus-
tomers when they have three
days of non-stop, 24/7 water
use, which could mean they
have a plumbing leak. Leak
alerts are provided via email,
mobile phone text, phone call,
or letter and will indicate the
dates and amounts of continu-
ous usage.
Faced with rapid urbaniza-
tion and increasing water
scarcity from climate change,
cities can turn to smart
meters to ensure the efficient
use of existing water supplies
before plans are made to fur-
ther increase supply. Smart
meters can be used to provide
customers with historical data
as well as a breakdown of con-
sumption processes that use
water, helping customers
identify water efficiencies in
homes; help customers set
water saving goals, and alert
customers of possible leaks.
Robert Brears is the Author
of Urban Water Security,
Founder of Mitidaption, and
Young Water Leaders.
@Mitidaption
EXPRESS WATER
 COLUMN
CommunityParticipation is the Key
Avinash Kumar
IN THE NATIONAL
RURAL DRINKING Water
Programme’s strategy plan
(2011-22), the Ministry of
Drinking Water and
Sanitation (MDWS) has set a
goal to ensure that every rural
person has enough safe water
for drinking, cooking and
other domestic needs as well
as livestock throughout the
year including during natural
disasters.
For 2017, the stipulated tar-
gets aim to ensure that at
least 55% of rural households
are provided with piped water
supply; at least 35% of rural
households have piped water
supply with a household con-
nection; less than 20% use
public taps and less than 45%
use handpumps or other safe
and adequate private water
sources. Additionally, all serv-
ices should meet set stan-
dards in terms of quality and
number of hours of supply
every day and that all house-
holds, schools, and angan-
wadis in rural India have
access to and use adequate
quantity of safe drinking
water.
In late 2017, WaterAid
India conducted a survey to
map water points in 636 gram
EXPRESS WATER
panchayats in 10 cities across
27 districts and 10 states cov-
ering 5.37 lakh households,
2,409 schools, 2,625 anganwa-
di centers and 224 public
healthcare facilities.
In total, the survey
mapped 20,360 water points
and analyzed them on the
basis of technology, function-
ality, and accessibility. The
survey also captured addition-
al information in terms of
quality, quantity, inclusion
along with operations and
maintenance (O&M) of the
water points. More than 85%
of the water points surveyed
were handpumps. About 7.5%
of the water points included
other improved sources such
as borewell power pumps,
mini piped water scheme,
mini water tank, piped water
supply, public stand posts, RO
(Reverse Osmosis) plant and
sanitary protected well.
Some of the key findings
that emerged from the sample
survey were that 3.2% of the
points mapped were unim-
proved water sources. Only
about 2.4% households sur-
veyed have access to piped
water connections. With
regard to habitation, 31% of
the 2,378 habitations surveyed
have access to piped water
supply. And according to
MDWS (as on 25 February
2018), the current coverage of
habitations is just around
34.8% including all sources
(improved or unimproved). So
clearly, we are far behind the
targets.
In communities, the num-
ber of existing handpumps
and their dependence on them
as a primary source of water
is predictably high. The aver-
age users per handpump are
in the range of 50-90 despite
the national norm of 250 peo-
ple per handpump.
While the handpump user
numbers may not be an exact
representation of the national
scenario, it is evident that
increasingly, governments’
new investments should be on
ensuring O&M for the existing
water points and improving
the service standards.
Moreover, more than 50% of
the surveyed functional water
points (mainly handpumps)
are in unsanitary conditions
with stagnant pools around
them, which has the potential
to not only contaminate
groundwater but also the
drinking water during the col-
lection and carrying process.
In institutional settings, 6%
of the schools surveyed do not
have any water source and 11%
have their primary water
source located outside the
school. Children mostly bring
water from home - 0.5 to 1 liter
bottles - but will this be
enough for a stay of not less
than 7 hours? Also, 37%
schools do not have any water
storage facility and so chil-
dren have to drink directly
from the source, which ham-
pers the consumption of
deworming tablets.
In the anganwadis, 30% did
not have any water source and
an additional 30% did not have
storage systems. In water
quality affected locations, chil-
dren were also exposed to dis-
KNOWING OUR WATERS
eases like fluorosis, which can
lead to permanent disability.
Lastly, but most crucially,
the poorest and those on the
margins - the economically
poor, women-headed house-
holds or those with disabled
people, the elderly and land-
less families - fall way behind
the general population in
terms of access to safe water.
This also underlines a larg-
er point that there is a long-
term need for identifying local
water sources, which can be
managed by the community.
Additionally, as the groundwa-
ter level is falling at an alarm-
ing speed, there is a strong
need to diversify water sources
rather than the continued
dependence on groundwater.
It is interesting that the
strategy paper prepared by
the government recognizes
most of the problems faced by
the water sector. For example,
the paper recognizes a new
category called ‘Slipped Back’,
reflecting the habitations,
which have moved from fully
covered to not covered/par-
tially covered category. It also
recognizes the reasons behind
it, such as the increase in pop-
ulation, increase in the num-
ber of habitations, drinking
water supply systems having
outlived their life spans or
becoming defunct, poor main-
tenance of infrastructure,
drinking water sources
becoming quality affected,
water going dry or lowering of
the groundwater table and so
on. Clearly, source sustainabil-
ity and lack of adequately
designed O&M systems are
the key challenges to deal
with.
Further, government’s own
earlier programmes like
‘Swajaldhara’ (launched in
2002) piloted in 67 districts
across 21 states recognized
that users of water are its best
managers. While creating the
strategy document, the gov-
ernment has ticked all the
right boxes, long argued by
water sector experts like
ensuring community partici-
pation in planning and imple-
mentation, operations and
maintenance of the infrastruc-
ture, taking up water conser-
vation and recharge measures
for source strengthening as
well as including an element
of cost sharing by the commu-
nity.
However, the major con-
straints faced during the
implementation of
Swajaldhara was that the
executive arm of the state
caught in the tussle between
the bureaucracy and the elect-
ed officials. More crucially, the
panchayats lacked finances
and skills to take up the
responsibility.
Though the recent years
have seen a rapid slide in
financial allocations for the
programme against the rising
tide of Swachh Bharat
Mission, there is a clear
opportunity coming via the
financial devolution to states
through 14th Finance
Commission recommenda-
tions, which has given
increased financial share to
gram panchayats. Many
states like Odisha have issued
guidelines that 30% of these
budgets should be utilized on
creating water infrastructure
(with O&M money being col-
lected from the users). While
the increased amount of
money available at the local
level will hopefully address
the long pending demands of
schemes like Swajaldhara, it is
also evident that panchayats
need to also focus on their
own capacity building to
develop gram panchayat
development plans and to be
able to oversee their imple-
mentation satisfactorily.
Avinash Kumar is Director -
Programme, and Policy at
WaterAid India.
@Avinashkoomar
February, 2018 11
 COLUMN
Underlying Causes of Non-Revenue Water Losses
and Whyit is Important
By Simon Ross, IWC for the Australian Water Partnership (AWP)
IN A RECENT INTERAC-
TION with Kini, Will
Spitzenberg, the Chief Water
Engineer of ASPA in
American Samoa, discussed
the problem of non-revenue
water (NRW) losses of up to
60% in the small island nation.
This column unpacks the
problem, which is particularly
troublesome in developing
regions, where an estimated
45 million m3 of water is
pumped, but then ‘lost’
through leaks, illegal connec-
tions, or other inefficiencies.
In developing countries,
this loss represents an eco-
nomic value of US$3 billion
per annum, which is equiva-
lent to providing water to an
additional 180 million people.
While performance bench-
marking for water utilities is
unlikely to attract a celebrity
endorsement,
Will suggests that it is a
growing area that developing
countries in the Asia-Pacific
region will increasingly need
help with and has important
sustainability and equity con-
siderations.
With this in mind, it is
important to reflect on how
these issues can best be
‘championed’.
Need for Local Capacity to
12 February, 2018
Detect and Respond to
Non-Revenue Water Losses
NRW losses are the differ-
ence between water that is
pumped by public utilities and
what is distributed, used and
paid for. These values are dif-
ferent for a number of rea-
sons:
• Piping infrastructure is
expensive to maintain and
replace.
• Illegal connections and
unreported leaks.
• Poor information and man-
agement systems.
Will said, that as a general
rule, well-performing water
utilities might lose around
20% of their water to non-rev-
enue streams, but in
American Samoa and the
Pacific, in general, this figure
can be up to 60% or even high-
er, which is exacerbated by
limited maintenance budgets
and poor institutional capaci-
ty.
For example, in his Kini
Interview, He also described
the scenario of finding ‘two
hundred gallons per minute
leaks that did not surface, and
just poured into the lava rock’
in parts of the piped water
network in American Samoa.
The reality is that these issues
need patience as they take
time to resolve.
The scale of investment
required to address these
problems is very large in
American Samoa and
includes:
• Human resource develop-
ment for local leak detec-
tion teams;
• Investment in automated
metering and real-time
monitoring equipment; and
• Developing a systematic
approach to reduce NRW
losses.
These losses reduce the
revenue but not the costs of
the American Samoa Power
Authority (ASPA), a com-
bined power and water utility.
Inefficiencies in water
resource management signifi-
cantly affect ASPA, who is
reliant on increasing rates for
local residents, loans or feder-
al grants for the ultimate goal
of financing the replacement
of US$100 million worth of
aging pipes and expanding
access to the water supply.
‘Benchmarking’ is the Way
to Drive Local Demand for
Change and Share Results
Will reinforced the need
for efficient, incremental
improvements to water sup-
ply systems driven by quality
information.
Benchmarking tools such
as the AWWA water balance
spreadsheet can provide moti-
vation to address these prob-
lems and enable knowledge
sharing.
‘Really good baseline infor-
mation to map the results is
important to understand
where to allocate resources.
When results are achieved
and more money comes in,
problems can begin to be
addressed.’ Will also refers to
the importance of targeted
long-term efforts by dedicated
local teams as being essential
to the process of improving
high NRW losses. ‘It is not
something that someone can
walk in solve and walk away’
A recent benchmarking
summary from the Pacific
Water and Wastewater
Authority highlighted the ben-
efits of learning together
through benchmarking activi-
ties to deal with the challeng-
ing issues of:
• Attracting resource-poor
customers to pay for their
water supply
• Replacing aging infrastruc-
ture
• Recovering operating costs
and attracting donors
• Setting equitable tariff
structures
Sustainability and Equality
are the Real Reasons for
Addressing Non-Revenue
Water Losses
Will’s message becomes
more evident when reflecting
on these challenges and this
WATER WISE
helps us understand the type
of role needed to be filled by
an NRW ‘champion’ to main-
tain improved sustainable and
equitable access to the water.
NRW problems are symp-
tomatic of how some functions
of water management have
traditionally been under-
resourced with low recogni-
tion and why this should
change.
Technical professionals are
required who also understand
the social relationships
required to change behavior
for:
• Maintaining existing infra-
structure;
• Promoting co-operation
and shared benefits;
• Negotiating the equitable
and targeted distribution of
scarce resources; and
• Communicating effectively
to respond to priority
needs.
Considering integrated so-
lutions to NRW loss
Benchmarking supported
by accurate and transparent
information should be used to
learn about where NRW loss-
es are occurring as well as
their underlying causes and
potential solutions.
Most important is knowing
how to respond collaborative-
ly, or as Will says: ‘Just pro-
ducing more water is not the
best solution. When water is
being lost, saving water is
much better than developing
new infrastructure.’
The Australian Water
Partnership (AWP) is an
Australian Government devel-
opment initiative enhancing the
sustainable management of
water across the Indo-Pacific.
@WaterPartnersAU
EXPRESS WATER
 THE SECOND OPINION
Implications of GSTon Water Projects
By Rajiv Menon and Sandeep S Sisodia
Rajiv Menon Sandeep Sisodia
What Does the GST Mean
for Water Projects?
The Goods & Services Tax
(GST) is the single biggest tax
reform undertaken since
Independence. GST will be
levied on the supply of goods
or services or both in India.
GST has come in to existence
with the intent of “One Nation,
One Market & One Tax”. As
such GST will subsume a
number of existing indirect
taxes being levied by the cen-
ter and state governments.
GST brings benefits to all
stakeholders: industry, gov-
ernment and the citizens. The
tax is expected to lower the
cost of goods and services,
boost the economy and make
product and services globally
competitive. GST is a destina-
tion-based consumption tax
system and it prevents cas-
cading of taxes by providing
comprehensive Input Tax
Credit (ITC) mechanism
across the entire supply chain.
Implementation of new tax
system brings out some
advantages and some disad-
vantages over the old tax sys-
tem.
In relation to water proj-
ects, there are certain tax
benefits available under the
Central Excise Act, Service
Tax and the Customs Act
under old tax regime in India.
With the introduction of GST,
these have been captured
under a single act.
Before continuing, it is nec-
essary to understand the
nature of the activity, to be
EXPRESS WATER
covered under water projects,
for which concessional bene-
fits under taxation shall be in
general available.
Any activity, undertaken
by the central government,
state government or Union
Territory or local authority in
relation to function entrusted
to Panchayat or municipality
are eligible for tax conces-
sions, The details of activity
and tax outlook are as below.
Activity Undertaken in
Broader Terms
1) Water supply for domestic,
industrial and commercial
purpose
2) Minor irrigation, water
management and water-
shed development
3) Provision of drinking water
4) Maintenance of community
assets
Tax Outlook Under GST
1) Any services provided to
the local authority, state or
central government in rela-
tion to the above-men-
tioned activity by a consult-
ant or contractor is exempt
from the GST.
2) Services provided in rela-
tion to the above-men-
tioned activity by the local
authority, state or central
government to the society
/end-user shall also exempt
from the GST.
3) Work contract services fall
under the Composite sup-
ply and includes activity in
relation to construction,
erection, commissioning,
installation, completion,
fitting-out, repairs, mainte-
nance, renovation, etc.
Such activities shall be
subject to GST at a rate of
12 percent and shall
become the cost of project
to the local authority.
4) However rate of GST will
become “nil” when the
value of goods supplied
under the Work contract
services shall not exceed
more than 25 percent of
the total value of work con-
tract services.
5) Any other construction
services shall be charge-
able at a rate of 18 percent.
6) Imported equipment and
plant required for setting-
up drinking water projects
(for desalination, deminer-
alization or purification of
water or any similar
process) shall be subject to
nil rate of customs duty.
However Integrated GST
shall be applicable at a rate
of 18 percent on the men-
tioned imports.
7) All equipment and plant
required for setting-up
drinking water projects
will be subject to GST at a
rate of 18 percent when
procured domestically; the
same shall become a cost
for the project.
8) In case, where the output
services are exempted
from GST, proportionate
Input Tax Credit (ITC)
attributable to exempted
services shall be disal-
lowed and become a cost
for the consultant/contrac-
tors, due to which, the
overall cost of services will
increase.
Here is a summary of the
overall impact of the changes
in the tax laws:
1) Under the old tax regime,
specific tax concessions
were available in relation to
excise duty on procure-
ment of equipment and
plant required for water
projects in India. However,
under the GST regime, cost
in relation to procurement
of domestic equipment and
plant for setting up a water
project is subject to tax at a
rate of 18 percent. This will
lead to overall increase in
the capital expenditure
cost for the client.
2) Under the old tax system,
counter vailing duty (CVD)
and Special additional duty
(SAD) were exempted on
the imported equipment
and machinery required
for water projects. The
water project falls under
category of “project
imports” and special privi-
lege was given by way of
exemption from tax by the
government. Under GST
regime, however, any
import under Project
import category shall be
subject to tax at a rate of 18
percent. This will lead to
overall increase in the cap-
ital expenditure cost for
the client.
3) Services provided in rela-
tion to the construction,
erection, commissioning,
installation, completion,
fitting-out, repairs, mainte-
nance, renovation or alter-
ation, etc., are now subject
to GST at a rate of 12 per-
cent in general. However,
under the old tax regime
construction services were
exempt from services tax
but were subject to Sales
Tax/VAT in the range of 4
percent (under composi-
tion), or 5 percent - 15 per-
cent VAT (under the nor-
mal scheme) on the materi-
als supplied under the con-
struction services activity.
This change shall lead to a
marginal increase in tax
cost as compare to the old
tax regime.
4) Any services other than
construction services were
subject to Service tax at a
rate of 15 percent under
the old tax regime. After
IMPACT OF GST
the introduction of GST,
however, pure services -
such as architect services,
consulting engineer servic-
es, manpower services, etc
- are exempted from GST,
if provided in relation to
activity of a water project.
This is a cost advantage to
the client under the new
tax regime.
5) GST provides for free flow
of Input Tax Credit (ITC)
for construction services.
However under the old tax
regime, if goods were pro-
cured from other states for
the construction services,
sales tax become a cost to
the contractor. In some
cases excise duty also
becomes cost at the time of
procurement of goods -
cement, steel, etc - from
traders instead of manu-
facturers by the contrac-
tors for the purpose of con-
struction works. Due to the
change in tax regime there
is marginal increase in the
cost saving available to the
contractor and client.
GST is a new born baby
which replaces a 60-year-old
tax regime in India. Once the
Act becomes more mature
with clearer understanding,
the entire industry is going to
benefit from the new tax
regime. The Indian
Government is currently
refining the GST Act and, on
the basis of industry represen-
tation, lots of amendments
have been made in the last six
months. On a positive note, we
can expect that over time the
overall cost for the infrastruc-
ture projects will decline.
About the Authors
Rajiv Menon is the
Managing Director of Black &
Veatch India.
Sandeep S. Sisodia is Sr.
Tax Manager at B&V, India.
February, 2018 13
 THE SECOND OPINION
Water Management: Re-invigorating
Inclusive Growth with GST
By Koichi Matsui
Koichi Matsui, Chairperson and Managing Director - UEM India
Access to safe drinking
water is a fundamental human
right. On 28 July 2010,
through Resolution 64/292,
the United Nations General
Assembly explicitly recog-
nized the human right to
water and sanitation and
acknowledged that clean
drinking water and sanitation
are essential to the realization
of all human rights. The reso-
lution calls to provide finan-
cial resources, help capacity-
building and technology
transfer to help countries, in
particular developing coun-
tries, to provide safe, clean,
accessible and affordable
drinking water and sanitation
for all.
The Government of India is
focusing on the development
14 February, 2018
of Sustainable Water Sector
by initiating policy action,
accompanied by enhanced
efforts to bring investment in
the sector through various
schemes. In the backdrop of
past reforms culminating into
early green shoots for policy
action, a credible rise in focus
on Water and Wastewater
management sector is reiter-
ated with the Goods and
Services Tax (GST) which will
give a boost to the industry by
lowering transaction cost and
avoiding any cascading effect
on the taxes.
With a simplified compli-
ance procedure resulting in a
rationalized tax structure,
accompanied by removal of
duplication of taxes results in
reducing compliance cost. In
turn, automation of compli-
ance processes would reduce
error, redundancy and
improve efficiency.
In the pre-GST era, there
was a dichotomy in the appli-
cable indirect tax regime rele-
vant to EPC contracts and
Operation & Maintenance
contracts. While the central
laws provided exemptions and
concessions, different state
Value-Added Tax (VAT) rules
provided for different com-
pounding scheme, making
compliance a bit challenging.
Further, the cascading
effect of Central and State
Indirect Taxes was a concern,
due to a high base for levy of
respective taxes. Litigation at
the Central and state levels on
the classification of contracts,
valuation, the jurisdiction of
state on inter-state works con-
tracts and other issues added
to the list of concerns of the
sectors that made achieving
operational efficiency a chal-
lenge.
GST being a concurrent
tax on supply of goods and
services is expected to bring
in predictability in multiple
projects being executed pan
India. There are some
changes that would have an
impact on indirect taxation -
taxability of works contracts
being one. As works contracts
are limited to only immovable
properties, turnkey contracts
which do not result in the
immovable property would
now be treated as composite
supplies.
Further, valuation of goods
and services in works con-
tracts, which has typically
sparked differences between
Central and State indirect tax
authorities, would now be put
to rest with the legislation,
classifying works contracts as
the supply of services, unam-
biguously. Other contracts
which do not result in immov-
able property could be regard-
ed as composite supplies, and
depending on the principal
supply, tax liability would
arise either as a supply of
goods or services. Thus, con-
tractors and suppliers could
look forward to a simpler and
efficient tax regime.
For project owners, howev-
er, the new legislation may not
lead to a conducive future.
Credit restrictions on works
contracts resulting in an
immovable property coupled
with the increase in GST rates
could increase cost outlay.
Already, exemptions and con-
cessions in some cases have
been partially withdrawn.
This could also lead to
increased working capital
requirements. Project cost
could rise due to an increased
burden of indirect taxes.
However, this aspect is fur-
ther examined considering
the base rate reduction
expected to be achieved with
GST implementation.
For municipal/ govern-
ment projects, there are
exemptions which are under
discussions and hopefully ear-
lier concessions/exemptions
shall be restored without
adversely impacting the seg-
ments. Representations are
being made to the government
IMPACT OF GST
for reduction in GST rate and/
or continuation of exemp-
tions/concessions.
For export business, we
hope that the government
smoothens the mechanism to
grant Letter of Undertaking
(LUT)/ Bond facilities to per-
mit export of goods without
payment of GST or it could
results into huge cash flow
mismatch.
Concluding, GST, in cur-
rent forms - as it is today,
seems to be a mixed bag for
the sector. Although pre-
dictability and efficiency pose
as being the key advantages,
the higher rate of GST/ with-
drawal of exemption (if not
addressed) may temporarily
create cash flow mismatch
and may result into increase
in government spending in
some cases.
About the Author
Koichi Matsui is the
Chairperson and Managing
Director of UEM India. He
had joined UEM India as
Chairperson and MD in
September 2015. During his
two years in India, he has
spearheaded developing, driv-
ing and implementing busi-
ness strategies and solutions
for UEM, along with Krishan
Kshetry, Promoter-UEM, to
expand the Company’s busi-
ness in India and abroad.
UEM India, a part of
Toshiba Group, is an interna-
tional multi-disciplinary envi-
ronmental services company,
headquartered in India that
specializes in providing turn-
key services in water and
wastewater management.
EXPRESS WATER
 PRODUCTS
Air Springs
Rapid and reliable actuation of
gate valves is becoming more
and more critical to liquid and
gas handling applications as
industries face the twin
demands of production
automation and pressure to
produce without production
interruptions for mainte-
nance.
These flexible-wall, bellows-
type Airstroke® Actuators -
manufactured by Firestone
and distributed throughout
Australia by Air Springs
Supply Pty Ltd - are, in
essence, tough, fabric rein-
forced rubber balloons of dif-
ferent shapes engineered to
perform different tasks. The
simple single, double and
triple-convoluted airbags
operate without seals, shafts
or internal moving parts to
provide ultra-reliable actua-
tion alternatives for materials
handling technology exposed
to grime, debris, and waste,
which can disrupt the seals
and shafts of convention pneu-
matic and hydraulic cylinders.
The globally proven Airstroke
range comprises single, double
and triple convoluted models
with strokes up to 300mm.
They suit applications requir-
ing clean actuators that don’t
need lubrication, but which
can also cope effortlessly with
dirt and grime.
Halosource
Halosource has launched
Astrea, its first consumer-fac-
ing brand, to the Indian mar-
ket. It has been selling its
patented HaloPure disinfec-
tion technology to consumer
product companies such as
Eureka Forbes in India since
2007.
EXPRESS WATER
Astrea purifying bottles,
marked as a step in technolog-
ical innovation, is available in
India.
The bottle features a dispos-
able cartridge that offers 3
stage purification which kills
more than 99.9 percent virus-
es and bacteria. Each car-
tridge provides up to 100 days
or 375 liters of clean, safe
drinking water with an LED
indicator which tracks and
alerts users for the replace-
ment of a cartridge.
Astrea Mobi-Pure bottle aqua
comes under the form of bot-
tles, which represent a
marked step forward in
design, quality, and technolog-
ical innovation. The product
can be used as a standalone
solution to ensure that drink-
ing water is germ-free – at
home, at school and student
dorms, when traveling, or
anywhere portability is
required. The bottle features
disposable cartridges that
offer three-stage purification,
using HaloSource's patented
HaloPure® water purification
technology to kill more than
99.9 percent of viruses and
bacteria, including E. coli
and Norovirus.
Biznustek
Industries such as electroplat-
ing, vibratory grinding, match-
ing, spray painting, etc gener-
ate enormous process waste-
water which needs to be dis-
posed-off safely.
Biznustek Systems’ innovative
AKVAZEN 40L Zero Liquid
Discharge System treats the
process water to obtain fresh/
clear/ distilled water which
can be reused in the industrial
process, thus lowering the
cost of fresh/ clear/ distilled
water replenishment.
Endress+Hauser
Endress+Hauser now offers
Heartbeat Technology with its
Liquiline CM44 and CM44R
transmitters for use with
Memosens pH and conductivi-
ty sensors.
Heartbeat Diagnostics’ contin-
uous analysis of
transmitter/sensor system
health status during operation
enables recognition of related
events when they occur.
Heartbeat Diagnostics follows
the NE-107 standardized
NAMUR-compliant message
structure for categorized
event severity level with clear
remedy instructions provided
for operations or maintenance.
Heartbeat Monitoring mini-
mizes the probability of a sud-
den breakdown or failure of
the measurement point and
helps define when mainte-
nance may be needed.
Verification results are provid-
ed via an audit safe report
automatically generated by
the transmitter. The report is
saved in PDF format and can
be preserved on an SD card
for transfer to a computer.
These reports can be used for
regulatory, quality or safety
documentation.
Sensorex
To meet conductivity control
needs in online water quality
and process applications,
Sensorex has introduced the
Sensorex SensoPro Toroidal
Bentley
Bentley Systems has
announced new capabilities
for OpenUtilities for own-
ers and operators of utility
infrastructure. These capa-
bilities will better support
global utilities seeking to
incorporate renewable
energy sources and provide
new opportunities for
deployment as a cloud serv-
ice.
The incorporation of
sisNET capabilities builds
on Bentley’s leading
OpenUtilities solution,
which provides utility-spe-
cific geospatial network
management integrated
with Bentley’s mapping and
engineering design applica-
tions. OpenUtilities will
interoperate with enter-
prise asset management
(EAM) systems through a
Conductivity Monitoring
System. The system combines
a Sensorex TCS3020 probe,
capable of reliable conductivi-
ty measurements in even the
harshest of environments,
with the company’s new
EX2000RS transmitter, fea-
turing Modbus communica-
tion for robust system integra-
tion. Monitoring with
SensoPro can prevent scaling
and corrosion, reduce exces-
sive water usage, and optimize
processes in a range of appli-
cations including cooling
connected data environ-
ment to ensure utilities can
leverage their network and
engineering information
throughout their opera-
tional workflows.
Vonnie Smith, VP of Utility
Asset Performance, Bentley
Systems, said, “We are very
excited about the possibili-
ties these new capabilities
introduce for our users as
they strive to excel in a
changing marketplace.
Bentley OpenUtilities
enables utilities around the
world to align their engi-
neering and design process-
es and deliverables to
exceed required engineer-
ing accuracy, to implement
best practice mapping and
geospatial standards, and to
streamline operational
workflows.”
tower water control, waste-
water treatment, brine analy-
sis, desalination, chemical pro-
cessing,, etc.
The TCS3020 probe used in
SensoPro system measures
conductivity using toroidal
sensing technology, which is
more stable and reliable com-
pared to traditional contacting
conductivity sensors.
Sensorex’s SensoPro Toroidal
Conductivity Monitoring
System is backed by a one-
year limited warranty.
This system, as whole, fea-
tures a conductivity measur-
ing range of 0.0 μS/cm-2000
mS/cm, percent concentration
measurements for NaCl, HCI,
HNO3, NaOH, H2SO4, H3PO4,
and automatic or manual tem-
perature control. The result is
a reliable conductivity and
concentration monitoring sys-
tem, in one simple package.
February, 2018 15
 PRODUCTS
Berson & Hanovia
Berson and Hanovia have
jointly launched a new low-
pressure UV disinfection sys-
tem for the treatment of
municipal, re-use and waste-
water. The easy-to-install
AmaLine R UV range has
been third-party validated, in
line with US EPA and NWRI
guidelines. It provides effec-
tive treatment while reducing
lifecycle costs through being
simple to maintain and
extremely energy efficient.
Unlike other similar systems,
the AmaLine has been
designed to simplify mainte-
nance, which can be per-
formed by a single operator
rather than a crew, and with-
out requiring external lifting
equipment.
The AmaLine range is applica-
tion-optimized in terms of its
design and operation, with a
flow range of 1-30 MGD (mil-
lions of gallons per day). The
AmaLine R has a U-shaped
chamber that optimizes flow
to cater for low UV light trans-
mittance (UVT) water quality.
This makes it ideal for re-use
and wastewater applications.
Also available is the AmaLine
D range, designed specifically
for municipal drinking water,
which has a coaxial flow L-
shaped chamber, and optimis-
es flow to deliver the most
effective disinfection for
drinking water applications.
AmaLine has been designed
using the latest computational
fluid dynamics (CFD) model-
ling. A highly efficient cham-
ber and optimized lamp posi-
tioning ensure maximum
energy efficiency. Optimum
distribution of UV intensity
throughout the chamber pro-
vides effective water treat-
ment.
Where Berson has been
focused on the municipal mar-
ket and Hanovia on industrial,
16 February, 2018
both companies now will focus
on all markets with joint
resources.
IDEC
IDEC Corporation announces
the release of its WindEDIT
Lite app for iOS and Android
devices, providing two-way
access to its family of
MicroSmart FC6A PLCs. The
app provides much quicker,
simpler and easier connection
as compared to browser-based
access.
With the WindEDIT Lite app,
users can monitor any PLC
parameter, and change set
points and other values. Data
register, input, output, timer
and counter values can be
monitored and controlled
using the standard Dialog
Interface. The WindEDIT Lite
app also has a custom Dialog
Interface which the user can
configure to allow only certain
PLC parameters to be moni-
tored and controlled.
Trending is supported by the
app, with users able to plot
multiple register points for
graphical views.
The WindEDIT Lite app runs
on any iOS or Android mobile
device, typically a smartphone
or tablet. Once the app is
downloaded to the device, it
interfaces to the MicroSmart
FC6A PLC via wireless
Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Ethernet
for two-way local or remote
access. Bluetooth is an ideal
solution for local, limited-
range connections where an
Ethernet network may not be
available, such as within an
industrial plant or facility. Wi-
Fi has more range and can be
used for communications over
longer distances.
The WindEDIT Lite App is
available for free download in
the Apple App Store or at
Google Play.
Sensorex
The new SensoLab benchtop
meter series from Sensorex
offers researchers a complete
sensing system with its
pH/ORP/conductivity meters
and kits. The new PM1000 and
CM1000 meters pair with
Sensorex’s laboratory sensors,
which include basic, advanced
and research-grade options to
maximize measurement accu-
racy and sensor lifetime in
applications from hydroponics
to biomedical and pharmaceu-
tical research. Configurable
kits simplify the product selec-
tion process.
The SensoLab meters provide
accurate, reliable measure-
ment. An intuitive interface
guides users through set up,
calibration and measurement,
with easy-to-read prompts
and results displayed on its
integrated screen.
A small footprint saves valu-
able desktop space. The
meters can be powered either
by the included AC adapter or
with AA batteries to eliminate
cords.
The SensoLab PM1000
pH/ORP meter covers the
range -2.00 to 16.00 pH with
+/- 0.01 pH accuracy and -
1999.9 to 1999.9 mV with +/-
0.05%FS accuracy for ORP. Its
optional AUTOLOCK feature
ensures repeatable and reli-
able pH and mV measure-
ments. The SensoLab CM1000
TDS meter analyzes conduc-
tivity or total dissolved solids
in samples, and works with
probes across four different
cell constants.
Its intelligent auto-ranging
capability automatically
selects the best conductivity
measurement unit based on
the sample type.
Sensorex’s SensoLab kits pro-
vide ready-to-use options,
packaging the SensoLab
meter with a choice of four
CST Wastewater
A clog-free automatic liquid-
to-solid waste KDS
Separator is introduced by
CST Wastewater Solutions
for industrial and municipal
wastewater applications
such as remote and environ-
mentally sensitive mining,
energy and oil and gas work-
sites and far-flung communi-
ties.
The compact KDS multi-disc
roller separator - which is
being used on pristine Lord
Howe Island, 600 km off
Australia’s East Coast, for
example - features a unique
self-cleaning dewatering and
conveying system with oval
plate separation and trans-
fer structure that prevents
sensors and a set of three
color-coded buffer solutions.
An optional electrode stand
can be added for hands-free
and continuous measurement.
Mueller
Mueller Water Products has
introduced the Singer 106/206
PGM-2PR-630-SM Pressure
Management Valves with
Integral Backup. Designed for
applications where failure is
not an option, this valve
hydraulically manages pres-
clogging and permits auto-
matic continuous operation
that handles oily and fibrous
material with ease.
The two-stage system on
Lord Howe uses a combina-
tion of coarse and fine
screening and advanced
KDS dry compaction tech-
nology to produce a more
hygienic and more compact
output that is easy to handle
and transport.
Applications, for which the
separator is designed,
include: food processing
waste, including canteen,
kitchen and community
waste, raw wastewater (pri-
mary screening) sewage
treatment, including raw
wastewater (primary
screening) and sludge to
landfill. It can also be used to
process barrel polishing
water, water-based paint
wastewater, grease trap
waste, dyeing wastewater,
waste oil, and plastic recy-
cling.
sure around the clock to
reduce water loss, save money
and prevent unwanted pres-
sure spikes that contribute to
premature pipe failure. Built
on the Singer 106PGM or 206-
PGM main valve, a simple field
retrofit is possible using the
paddle style orifice plate.
Here’s how it works: The valve
switches between high and
low-pressure pilots based on
flow rate. The pressure reduc-
ing pilots independently adjust
to suit the optimal down-
stream pressure. The valve
requires no electrical power or
independent flow signal, as it
takes its flow signal from an
orifice plate installed on the
valve inlet. The integral back-
up system protects against
diaphragm or pilot failure,
reducing the need for immedi-
ate service.
The valve is available in sizes
4-12 inches (DN100-DN300)
with a minimum pressure at
the valve inlet of 29 PSI
(200kPa/2 barg).
EXPRESS WATER
 COVER STORY NATURE FOR WATER

EXPRESS WATER February, 2018 17

 COVER STORY

554 Million Asians Do Not Have

Access to Safe Drinking Water
Benedito Braga is the President of
the World Water Council (WWC).
He is the Secretary for Sanitation
and Water Resources for the state of
Sao Paulo and professor of Civil and
Environmental Engineering at
Escola Politecnica of University of
Sao Paulo (USP), Brazil. He is the
author of 25 books and chapters of
books, and more than 200 scientific
articles. He is also the recipient of
2002 Crystal Drop Award, given by
International Water Resources
Association (IWRA) in recognition
for his lifetime achievements in the
area of water resources
management. In 2009, Prof. Braga
was awarded the honorary
membership of American Water
Resources Association (AWRA) for
his eminence in the field of water
resources. Mayur Sharma talked to
him about the upcoming World
Water Day (22 March) and other
issues like Cape Town going to be
the first major city in the world to
run out of the water.

How will you define the
theme of World Water Day
2018 - ‘Nature for Water’ -
for our readers?
Benedito: The theme of
this year’s World Water Day
‘Nature for Water’ explores
how we can use nature to
overcome the water chal-
lenges of the 21st century. The
water-related crises we see
around the world, like floods,
drought and water pollution,
are all exacerbated by degrad-
ed vegetation, soil, rivers, and
lakes.
How do you think the world
leaders can help in pro-
moting the concept of na-
ture for water?
Benedito: The World
Water Council strives for gov-
ernments to focus on water
issues and encourages them to
contribute a relevant part of
their budgets to projects,
whether it be built or green
infrastructure, that make safe
water available to all on the
planet.
What are the ‘water chal-
lenges’ of the 21st century
in your opinion? How can we
use nature to overcome
them? Can we practically
reduce floods, droughts and
water pollution by using the
solutions from nature?
Benedito: The ‘water chal-

18 February, 2018 EXPRESS WATER


lenges’ of the 21st century
include:
• Push for the availability by
2030 of safe, clean and reli-
able drinking water and
access to sanitation for all,
in line with the SDGs - cur-
rently, 1.8 billion people
around the world use a
source of drinking water
contaminated with faeces,
putting them at risk of con-
tracting cholera, dysentery,
typhoid, and polio. Unsafe
water, poor sanitation and
hygiene cause around
842,000 deaths each year
(WHO/UNICEF 2014/WHO
2014).
• Help increase water securi-
ty at large - there is an
absolute necessity to
increase water security - in
other words ensuring
enough good quality water
to sustain multiple needs,
including those for ecosys-
tems. This is needed to
overcome the challenges
brought on by climate
change and human influ-
ence. This can be achieved
by strengthening institu-
tions, increasing financing,
and reinforcing capacity to
develop adequate infra-
structure and resource
management.
• Population growth, migra-
tion towards urban areas
(most of which are in the
coastal regions), and cli-
mate change are all pres-
sures that will be increas-
ingly encountered in the
21st century.
• Solutions from nature
include planting trees,
replenishing forests, recon-
necting the river to flood-
plains and restoring wet-
lands. These are sustain-
able and cost-effective
measures that can be used
to rebalance the water
cycle, which in turn would
help reduce floods and
droughts and so reducing
the effects of climate
change.
The media has largely been
focused on Cape Town go-
ing to be the first major
city in the world to run out
of the water by this April.
As the ‘Day Zero’ looms on
EXPRESS WATER
Cape Town, what are your
thoughts on it? Can other
world cities avoid a similar
situation?
Benedito: Even though
this is an unfortunate crisis, it
has increased awareness
about the global water short-
age.
At least 11 other cities have
experienced or are experienc-
ing problems related to the
water supply - Sao Paulo,
London, Tokyo, Bangalore,
Beijing, Cairo, Jakarta,
Moscow, Istanbul, Mexico
City, and Miami.
According to Eco Business,
three steps can be taken by
cities around the world, to
avoid being in a similar situa-
tion as Cape Town, and to
boost water security and
resilience. The first step is to
understand the risk - each city
has their own unique risk, and
must carefully measure and
forecast climate change, pop-
ulation growth and competing
demands on their water sys-
tems. The second step is to
manage their water budget -
city planners and water utili-
ties need to be proactive in
creating and implementing
integrated urban water man-
agement strategies. These
strategies would consider all
water-related issues such as
drinking water, wastewater,
and urban drainage, as well as
energy, food and industrial
needs. The final step is to
invest more in resilience.
Cities must become more pre-
pared for the unexpected, for
example, by identifying oppor-
tunities to build and develop
water storage and ways to
treat and reuse wastewater,
while also investing in water
efficiency and natural infra-
structure for protection.
Can you provide us with a
few examples of success-
ful implementations of na-
ture-based solutions for
water management?
Benedito: World Water
Council member, the
International Union for
Conservation of Nature
(IUCN) defines nature-based
solutions as “actions to pro-
tect, sustainably manage, and
restore natural or modified
ecosystems, which address
societal challenges effectively
and adaptively, simultaneous-
ly providing human well-being
and biodiversity benefits.”
An example of a successful
implementation of a nature-
based solution for water man-
agement would be Rwanda:
Forest Landscape Restoration
as a national priority. Rwanda
made a pledge to restore two
million hectares of degraded
and deforested land, in order
to “improve ecosystem quality
and resilience, provide new
opportunities for rural liveli-
hoods, while securing ade-
quate water and energy sup-
plies and supporting low car-
bon economic development”
(Ministry of National
Resources, 2014, p. 1).
The COP23 Side Event:
Nature-based solutions for
water and adaptation to cli-
mate change centered on the
role of nature-based solution
for water and adaptation to
climate change focusing on
the inter-linkages of water,
biodiversity and climate
change.
Asia-Pacific region is
home to nearly two-thirds
of the global population
but only uses one-third of
the world’s water re-
sources. This is a serious
concern. How can it be ad-
dressed?
Benedito: 554 million
Asians do not have access to
safe drinking water.
Unfortunately, the Asia-
Pacific region faces many
threats to water resources,
including poor access to water
and sanitation, limited water
availability, deteriorating
water quality, and increased
exposure to climate change
and water-related disasters.
To be able to address these
issues and concerns, it is
important to raise awareness
and improve water resources
management, and focus on the
sustainable development of
this, as well.
China, for example, is now
focusing on their issue of
water pollution within the
country and is taking
increased measures to
improve the quality of their
NATURE FOR WATER
water. With the implementa- many different initiatives, for
tion of the State Council’s example on #ClimateIsWater
Water Pollution Prevention or on Integrated Water
and Control Action Plan in Resources Management.
April 2015, the Plan states These all help in raising
that by 2020, 70% of the water awareness for specific water-
in the major watersheds and related issues.
93% of the drinking water
sources in major cities are to How does the World Water
meet Grade III or higher stan- Council influence policy-
dards. If countries in the Asia- making, as it would be an
Pacific region introduce plans integral part of the shift in
such as China’s, they may be how countries see and use
able to improve their water their water resources?
resources management and Benedito: The World
overcome this concern. Water Council has around 300
member organizations from
As per a release by World more than 50 different coun-
Water Council (WWC), tries. Through events such as
there will be a 50% in- the World Water Forum, we
crease in the demand for are able to bring together
energy & water by 2030. As heads of state, ministers, may-
this will require three ors, parliamentarians, high-
times the current level of level decision makers, water
capital investment in wa- experts and professionals and
ter infrastructure, how will not only raise awareness
it impact the economy and about water-related issues,
water cycle? but also influence policy-mak-
Benedito: With the rise in ing and catalyze collective
water demand and its limited action to support the cause.
availability, efficiency, recy-
cling, and reuse will become Finally, what would you say
much more important. is the one most important
Innovative technical solutions thing for the world to con-
will offer better and cheaper sider on World Water Day?
solutions that drive global Benedito: Since water is a
water security. common good, taking care of
our water resources is, there-
How do you see the role of fore, the shared responsibility
World Water Council in the of everyone on the planet. If
evolution of water aware- actions are taken sooner
ness? rather than later and decision-
Benedito: The World makers invest in water securi-
Water Council has a very ty, communities may be better
important role in the evolu- prepared to deal with crises,
tion of water awareness. such as the Cape Town
Global events such as the drought, and costs can actual-
World Water Forum and ly be averted. These actions,
World Water Day are funda- including the introduction of
mental to raising water nature-based solutions, can be
awareness in different parts of used to overcome the water
the globe. The WWC drives challenges of the 21st century.
The World's Cities by 2030
• More than 40% of the world’s population will live in river
basins under severe water stress.
• 50% increase in demand for energy and water, requires a
water infrastructure capital investment, 3 times the cur-
rent level.
• 20% of the population will be at risk from floods.
• 60% of urban settlements remain to be built.
• 2 million people will have migrated to cities, placing
unprecedented pressure on infrastructure and resources,
particularly those related to water.
(Source: World Water Council)
February, 2018 19
 COVER STORY
Urban Wetland Systems: Green
Infrastructure for Sustainable
Water Management
As cities expand and become densely populated, there is a respectively growing demand for
improved sanitary and ecological conditions and a more intelligent way to exploit urban
space.
By Dr. Alexandros Stefanakis
GREEN INFRASTR-
UCTURE (GI) is today a mod-
ern approach to the urban
environment and an attractive
alternative to traditional
infrastructure made of con-
crete (often called grey infra-
structure). GI initially
referred to open urban green
areas, usually connected to
each other to provide various
services and/or to create a
new ecosystem. Typical appli-
cations of GI solutions are the
urban runoff and stormwater
management, reducing the
effects of urban heat islands,
improving air quality etc.
However, the content of that
term has been expanded to
include, e.g., provision of
ecosystem services, the cre-
ation of new wildlife habitat
and reduction of greenhouse
20 February, 2018
gas emissions. GI represents
today a wide set of solutions
aimed at increasing the
resilience of urban environ-
ments to deal with the
increasing risks that modern
cities face due to the frequent
appearance and intensity of
extreme events. Today, it is
realized that ecosystem serv-
ices, i.e., all services and goods
that nature provides to
humans, represent a tremen-
dous value, which should not
be neglected. Thus, GI is
strongly related to sustain-
ability.
Rapid urbanization and
continuous expansion of mod-
ern cities are only a few of the
challenges that local authori-
ties and governments face
related to urban runoff and
stormwater management.
Current problems have to do
with the aging of existing
infrastructure, shifts in pre-
cipitation patterns with more
frequent and intense storm
events, watershed deforesta-
tion, degradation of natural
wetlands, extensive use of
impervious surfaces (e.g.,
roadways, parking lots) that
result in urban floods and pol-
lution of water sources. As cli-
mate change is expected to
further enhance these phe-
nomena, adoption of GI could
make a more beneficial use of
the multiple ecosystems serv-
ices and could help in impact
mitigation. As cities expand
and become densely populat-
ed, there is a respectively
growing demand for improved
sanitary and ecological condi-
tions and a more intelligent
way to exploit urban space.
One of the main fields
where GI can play an impor-
tant role is water manage-
ment, mainly stormwater
management and wastewater
treatment services.
Stormwater runoff manage-
ment is a major issue in mod-
ern cities. Often, stormwater
contributes to combined
sewer overflow in cities,
where domestic/ municipal
wastewater, urban runoff, and
stormwater are collected in
the same pipe network that
routes the collected volume to
an end-of-the-pipe centralized
wastewater treatment plant.
The occurring overflow vol-
ume can be higher than the
capacity of the treatment
plants, which means that the
excess wastewater volume is
discharged into surface water
bodies (streams, rivers, lakes
or see) to avoid overloading of
the existing treatment plants
and creates flood incidents in
urban areas. Another conse-
quence is further contamina-
tion of surface waters and
damage of the receiving
ecosystem, considering that
during flood events water
from the first flush of roads
and concrete surfaces, sewer
washout and sanitary waste-
water carries high loads of
organics, nutrients, and sus-
pended solids. Management of
this water volume is impor-
tant to prevent any damages
to public infrastructure and
private properties and to pro-
tect human health and the
health status of the ecosys-
tems.
Another example where GI
can be beneficial is waste-
water treatment within the
urban and peri-urban environ-
ment. The established solu-
tion today is the centralized
approach, i.e., the implemen-
tation of large end-of-the-pipe
centralized treatment plants
using conventional waste-
water treatment technologies.
However, these facilities are
not environmentally friendly
since they are heavy installa-
tions made of non-renewable
materials (e.g., concrete,
steel), consume large amounts
of energy and have high oper-
ational and maintenance
costs. In the urban environ-
ment, installing a convention-
al wastewater treatment plant
usually downgrades the sur-
rounding area as it is not a
place where people want to
live. Hence, an alternative eco-
friendly solution, what would
combine effective treatment
with added ecological values,
is desirable.
It is clear that there is the
necessity for new infrastruc-
EXPRESS WATER

ture that will meet the
requirements for effective
treatment and sanitation of
the generated water streams
and, at the same time, create
green spaces in the urban
environment, which could also
partially compensate the lack
of sufficient green areas. The
eco-friendly technology of
Constructed Wetlands (CWs)
is an attractive solution with
added values to ecosystem
services. It is known that wet-
lands are able to remove
and/or transform various pol-
lutants (organics, nutrients,
trace elements, etc.) through a
series of natural, biological,
and chemical processes, and
therefore improving water
quality. Human-made wetland
ecosystems exploit these puri-
fying functions of natural wet-
lands, which have been used
for the disposal and treatment
of secondary and tertiary
wastewater effluents for many
years. Nowadays, the use of
natural wetlands for treat-
ment purposes is not allowed,
since this could cause irre-
versible damage. The basic
concept of CWs is to replicate
the various wetland processes
under controlled conditions
for a beneficial outcome. This
means that CWs are designed
in such a way to mimic and
enhance the functions of natu-
ral wetlands. Although CWs
offer in general the same val-
ues and functions with natural
wetlands, they appear as a
more ecologically endowed
system. It has been shown
that CWs possess a higher
value in terms of flood and
stormwater control, water
quality improvement and bio-
diversity restoration. Their
nature makes them more eas-
ily adopted and integrated
into the built environment by
urban planners, engineers,
EXPRESS WATER
and landscape architects. The
main functions of CWs are
flood protection, water stor-
age, and water quality
improvement.
In the urban context, wet-
land technology applications
are rare, mainly due to space
limitations. However, continu-
ous research and state-of-the-
art designs developed over the
last 10-15 years gradually close
this gap between land avail-
ability and area demand. The
wider use of decentralized
systems offers a better man-
agement option for the gener-
ated volumes and minimizes
the required quantity and size
of centralized facilities. Use of
constructed wetlands in
urban suburbs, for example, is
today feasible. In suburban
areas, the land is usually
cheaper, the population densi-
ty is smaller and the building
volumes are not that massive
as in the main urban areas.
The technical developments
and improvements in con-
structed wetland design make
it easier to adopt this treat-
ment solution, even in areas
with relatively limited avail-
able space. Intensified CW
systems, e.g., aerated wet-
lands where artificial aeration
is applied to further improve
the oxygen availability in the
bed, are an example. The
increased treatment capacity
of these systems is translated
to reduced area demands,
while the amount of energy
required for the air blowers is
minimum and can be covered
by renewable energy sources,
e.g., solar or wind energy.
Hence, there is the strong
potential of using of wetland
technology in suburban and
urban areas.
Innovative ideas can also
be applied for the successful
integration of CWs in the
urban environment, e.g., the
use of wetlands as green roofs.
The concept deals with the
construction of roofs with a
vegetated surface. Studies
have shown that this practice
can regulate the temperature
inside the building, reduce the
urban heat-island effects, and
act as a carbon sink while pro-
viding a range of ecological
services.
In urban and suburban
areas, the lower infiltration
rate, the limited evapotranspi-
ration due to the extended
land coverage with building
infrastructure, roads etc. and
the limited green spaces
result in significantly higher
runoff volumes, up to 50%
higher compared to natural
land. For example, it has been
estimated that 1 acre of park-
ing lot generates 16 times
higher stormwater volume
than 1 acre of meadow. The
modern approach of building
GI takes into consideration
multiple issues such as water
quality improvement,
resources protection, flow vol-
ume control and cost-effective
long-term operation and
maintenance. CWs are
increasingly viewed as an eco-
logical solution to the manage-
ment of stormwater and CSO
providing a series of advan-
tages, such as reduction in
runoff volumes, peak flows
and duration, protection of
downstream water resources,
reducing the risk of flooding,
water quality improvement,
increase of runoff infiltration,
creation of wildlife habitat and
options for recreation activi-
ties.
Overall, the use of
Constructed Wetlands in
urban and peri-urban areas
can offer multiple benefits and
services to the residents. As a
multi-purpose green technolo-
NATURE FOR WATER
gy, they provide a new habitat
for animals and plants, while
treating water, improving
water quality and reducing
pollution. Given that these
systems are dominated by
dense clusters of reeds, they
act as a cooling island, regu-
late the microclimate of the
surrounding areas and mod-
erate the strong winds. In this
way, they act as aesthetically
pleasant urban green spaces,
which contribute to the well-
being of the community and
provide options for recre-
ational activities. It is also
known that the contact with
green spaces in the urban con-
text, supports the physical
and psychological health. In
this frame, Wetland technolo-
gy represents a key solution
for the increased resilience of
modern cities to existing
stressors regarding water and
wastewater management.
Distribution of several
CWs throughout a green infra-
structure network allows the
usage of treated effluents to
create wetlands for habitat
enhancement, irrigation, and
open space uses. The main
advantage of large construct-
ed wetland systems for waste-
water treatment is the signifi-
cantly lower operating costs
and external energy use. The
economic value of the ecosys-
tem services provided by CWs
justifies their construction to
realize the wide range of pro-
visioning, regulating, and cul-
tural benefits.
When connected to urban
ecological corridors, the
ecosystem services provided
by CWs promote the creation
of large-scale multifunctional
landscapes, altering this way
the characteristics of urban-
ized development. Being one
of the most productive habi-
tats on the planet,
Constructed Wetlands built
for wastewater treatment or
stormwater control offer a
series of environmental and
social benefits, enhance biodi-
versity and habitat, create
corridors for wildlife and
become part of the regional
recreational network. Their
integration in the urban envi-
ronment supports a healthier
ecological balance of existing
water streams by providing
clean water while protecting
downstream areas of the city
from flooding. The provision
of additional green space with
aesthetic values is a way for
the community to feel con-
nected with nature and to
increase psychological well-
being. In summary, the multi-
ple benefits of Constructed
wetlands should be further
exploited and realized in
order to include these green
systems in current and future
urban plans.
About the Author
Dr. Alexandros Stefanakis
is a Wetlands Expert at Bauer
Resources GmbH. He has
graduated from the
Department of Environmental
Engineering, Democritus
University of Thrace, Greece
with the Diploma of
Environmental Engineer in
2005. His Master in Science in
2007 focused on Hydraulic
Engineering and the
Environment. His Ph.D. (2011)
focused on Ecological
Engineering and Technology
investigating several pilot con-
structed wetland units for
wastewater treatment and
sludge dewatering. His expert-
ise lies in water engineering
and specifically on natural
waste treatment systems. He
is an expert on sustainable
and decentralized treatment
systems, mainly Constructed
Wetlands. As an
Environmental Engineer, he
has designed, managed and
constructed wastewater
treatment facilities using
Wetland Technology in many
countries in Europe, Middle
East, USA, and Africa.
Currently, Bauer Nimr LLC
employs him, and he is based
in Oman working on projects
in the Middle East and around
the world.
February, 2018 21
 COVER STORY
Women Save Village byReviving
Dying River
By The Art of Living
Women Leaders Working for River
Rejuvenation in Tamil Nadu
THE WOMEN OF
Kammavaanpettai village
have scripted an incredible
tale of success.
This place in Tamil Nadu
was a picture of misery with
acute shortage of water, no
agriculture and frustrated vil-
lagers.
The Naganadhi River in
the village was facing major
water problems for the last 15
years, and no efforts were
being done to revive it. A large
majority of the men there had
given up all hope and had
taken to drinking, making
things worse.
The dire state of affairs in
the village encouraged the Art
of Living Water Projects team
to do something for the vil-
lagers.
They decided to focus on
the womenfolk in the area and
urge them to work, and
become living symbols of the
22 February, 2018
feminine strength. The
women too decided that it was
time they took matters in
their hands and came forward
to work wholeheartedly for
the cause.
Capacity Building Pro-
grams
The Art of Living team
started with conducting Rural
Happiness courses - a self-
empowerment and personal
development program. It
equipped the women with the
necessary capacity tools to
create success for themselves
and inspire others to join
them.
The program instilled in
the women a newfound sense
of confidence and dignity, and
they then started to work to
solve the water crisis in the
village.
Empowered Women Begin
Work
Naganadhi rejuvenation
needed cement rings that are
placed at a depth of 20 feet in
which the rainwater runoff
collects.
The requirement created
an opportunity for employ-
ment. The women decided to
do the work themselves
instead of procuring cement
rings from outside. An idea
was mooted to form a women
self-help group under the
MGNREGA scheme to pro-
duce cement rings on their
own.
Under the employment
generation scheme of the gov-
ernment, the women strived
physically to achieve what had
once seemed an impossible
feat.
They started working to
During the Construction
revive the Naganadhi River.
They worked at all stages of
the project - right from dig-
ging the wells, placing the
cement rings, putting the
stones to finally closing the
well with a cement lid.
The women make around
2000 rings per month and it
brings them a profit of 40 per-
cent, which is equally shared
among the members of the
self-help groups.
Each group usually con-
tains 5-6 women. There are
four teams working on this
project and a total of 85 peo-
ple are now gainfully
employed. The project is set
to expand this fiscal year and
the women are fully motivated
to achieve more and achieve
their targets.
Surprised at Their Own Ca-
pabilities
Most women were appre-
hensive of the fact that they
would have to dig such deep
wells, but once they finished
digging a well, they felt
enthused to proceed further.
The women also feel a
renewed sense of empower-
ment and inspiration to
explore their capabilities. “We
were asked to dig wells up to a
depth of 20 feet. We didn’t
believe we could do it. But,
once we began, there was no
stopping us till the job was
done!” beams Anandi, a local
village woman working for the
project.
Chitra says, "When I stand
back and observe what we
have done - all we women - I
feel proud of all the hard work
done."
Geeta says, "I feel so
responsible that we ourselves
have come together, made
groups of 10-15 ladies, got
down to work and completed
the task. Now we have abun-
dant water, and all due to our
own efforts.”
Profits from the Small
Scale Business
This activity has not only
helped in the rejuvenation
project, but also made the
women generate a substantial
amount of profit and turn it
into a small scale business.
This gave them a lot of confi-
dence and made them self-
reliant and able to stand on
their feet.
The enthusiasm and the
happiness of having accom-
plished a task shine on the
faces of these simple rural
folks.
They are now all enthused
to do more and now want all
the neighbouring villages to
benefit. Also, now they not
only have enough water to
drink, but also have enough to
irrigate the village.
Amsaveni says, “Now I do
not have to ask my husband
and wait for him to give me
money to buy basic goods for
the household, myself or my
children. I can buy them on
my own.”
Working for the river reju-
venation project has trans-
formed the underprivileged
wives, mothers and sisters of
the region into self-dependent
women.
The involvement in the
projects has given the women
in the region a sense of accom-
plishment, worth and motiva-
tion to be further involved in
community initiatives. Having
found their own footing, they
can now move forward confi-
dently to ignite the flame of
inspiration in the hearts of
other rural women, both in
the region and throughout
India.
Women Working in
Kammavapettai Village
EXPRESS WATER

Wastewater Treatment with Solar
Detoxification Technology
By Dr. Mritunjay Chaubey
IN RECENT YEARS, it has been
demonstrated that solar detoxification
has great potential for the elimination of
toxic elements, organic compounds and
biological contamination in wastewater.
The solar detoxification is the process
of treatment of wastewater in which
catalyst titanium dioxide (TiO2) is
exposed to the sun, the catalyst absorbs
the high energy photons light from the
UV portion of the solar spectrum and
reactive chemicals known as hydroxyl
radicals are formed. These radicals are
powerful oxidizer and disinfectant.
Reaction Pathways
The possible reaction pathways for
solar detoxification mechanism are as
follows:
When a photon with an energy
equal to or more than the band-gap of
TiO2 is absorbed on its surface, it
causes excitation of an electron from
the valence band (vb) to the conduc-
tion band (cd), forming a “positive
hole” in the valence band. Both the
hole and the electron are highly ener-
getic and hence highly reactive. The
excited electron and the positive hole
either re-combine and release heat, or
migrate to the surface, where they can
react with adsorbed molecules and
either causes a reduction or oxidation
of the adsorbate. Since recombination
in the bulk or on the surface is the
most common reaction, the quantum
yields (molecules reacted/photons
absorbed) of most photocatalytic reac-
tions are low. The “positive holes”
EXPRESS WATER
cause oxidation of the surface
absorbed specie while the electrons
cause reduction. Both reactions must
take place in order to maintain elec-
troneutrality. Thus, if the objective is
the oxidation of organics, the electrons
must be consumed in a reduction reac-
tion such as absorption by oxygen mol-
ecules to form superoxide, in order to
keep the holes available for oxidation.
On the other hand, if the objective is
the reduction and recovery of metals,
all other reducible species such as oxy-
gen must be eliminated or kept away.
The following equations describe the
oxidation and reduction reactions:
Oxidation of Organics
Reduction of Metals
Solar Detoxification Kinetic
The rate of photocatalytic degrada-
tion of organic, biological and toxic ele-
ments depend on the several factors
including catalyst concentration, oxy-
gen concentration, pH, the presence of
inorganic ions and the concentration of
organic matters. Typically in many
photo-assisted reactions, the effect of
temperature is small.
To study the kinetics of solar detox-
ification Langmuir - Hinshelwood (L-
H) kinetics seem to describe many of
the reactions fairly well. The rate of
destruction is given by:
dC K1 K2 C
- ----- = ---------------
dt 1 + K2C
Where, C = Bulk solute concentration
K1 = Reaction rate constant
K2 = Equilibrium adsorption constant
t = Residence time
For low solute concentrations, K2C
is usually much smaller than one,
which means the denominator in the
L-H expression equal to one. This
reduces the L-H expression to a pseu-
do-first order expression.
dC
- ------ = K1 K2 C = KC--------- Eq. (1)
dt
Typically, the industrial wastewater
pollutant levels are on the order of
parts per million (ppm), which are low
enough for the reaction rate to follow
the pseudo first-order kinetics.
For the first order kinetic reaction,
the reaction rate constant ‘K’ is calcu-
lated by using equation (1) as
Cf
----- = e-kt
Ci
t = (ln Ci/Cf ) / K
ln(Ci/Cf)
K = ------------ ------------- Eq. (2)
t Solar detoxification technology is
Where, K = Reaction rate constant
Ci = Initial concentration of contami-
nant of wastewater
Cf = Final concentration of contami-
nant of wastewater
T = Residence time
The reaction rate constant deter-
mined herein, is based on certain par-
ticular intensity of the UV radiation in
laboratory. As we know that the inten-
sity of the UV radiation cannot be con-
trolled, therefore the experimentally
determined reaction rate constant
must be adjusted for the actual field
UV intensity according to the follow-
ing equation.
K I
---- = a ----- ------ Eq. (3)
Ko Io
Where, K = Actual reaction rate con-
stant at the field
NATURE FOR WATER
Ko = Experimental reaction rate con-
stant
I = Actual UV intensity at field
Io = Experimental UV intensity (50
w/m2)
A = Constant, 0.88
It has been investigated that the
kinetic of solar detoxification process
in wastewater treatment follows the
first order reaction. The reaction rate
constant play very important role in
this reaction and it has been found that
the reaction rate constant is different
for different pollutants of wastewater.
The reaction rate constant is higher
for killing of E-coli bacteria and mini-
mum for COD reduction. It has been
also investigated that the reaction rate
constants for BOD and COD are high
at tertiary stage of treatment in com-
parison of secondary stage treatment
and hence the solar detoxification
process will be most effective when
used at tertiary stage of wastewater
treatment.
Application of Solar Detoxification
capable of reducing organic, biological
contamination. This technology is also
effective in removing heavy metals &
colour from wastewater. In a single
reactor we can achieve reduction of
organic impurities, biological impuri-
ties, heavy metals & colour from
wastewater. Among several available
fouling prevention technique of
reverse osmosis systems, solar detoxi-
fication is the latest and advance tech-
nology for fouling prevention of
reverse osmosis systems. In this tech-
nology chemical consumption is negli-
gible and energy consumption is very
less as compared to other convention-
al methods.
About the Author
Dr. Mritunjay Chaubey is sustain-
ability, environment, water & waste-
water treatment technology expert.
He is currently working as Global Vice
President - Environment &
Sustainability at UPL Limited.
February, 2018 23
 COVER STORY
Water Management: APolicy
Correction
Water calls for a proactive and not reactive state policy with a primary aim to reduce its
commoditization and make it equally and freely available.
By Ajitabh Sharma
Water - A Treasure
Water is called ‘elixir of
life’. The first life form on
earth was created in water.
Under the basic scientific
classification of solid, liquid
and gaseous states of matter,
water though falling in the liq-
uid state has historically
intrigued the scientific com-
munity for its widely studied
24 February, 2018
anomalous behaviour. It is this
anomalous behaviour which
makes water the only natural-
ly occurring substance whose
solid-form ice is less dense
than its liquid form water,
which makes ice float on
water.
The water molecule con-
sisting of two very light hydro-
gen atoms and a relatively
much heavier oxygen atom
should consequently have
made H2O a gas. Implying,
water on earth should have
existed mostly in form of
vapour. The similarity of the
water molecule is with the
like-sized hydrogen sulphide
(H2S), ammonia (NH3) and
hydrogen chloride (HCl)
which are all gases. Hydrogen
Sulphide molecule despite
being twice the weight of
water molecule exists in
gaseous state.
This unique characteristic
of water is because of the V
shape of the water molecule,
and the hydrogen bond which
is very weak when compared
with the covalent bonds of the
molecule. As a result, the
whole H2O molecule, even
after being electrically neu-
tral, is polar in nature.
This formation of the
water molecule makes it a
unique substance in nature
which provides it the perfect
‘stickiness’ to be the basic
building block of life on earth.
The sticky nature of water
enables it to dissolve most of
the compounds within itself,
which makes it possible to
play the role of a medium of
transport at the cellular level
in living beings, and hence
making it the foundation of
the life support system. No
other liquid carries this
remarkable quality in such
abundance like water does.-
Because of its very compo-
sition at the molecular level
water can neither be
destroyed nor created except
under extreme laboratory
conditions requiring high
energy interaction. It is
astounding to learn that the
water we daily drink, wash
hands with, bath with, irrigate
our farms with, extract from
the wells, the snow, the ice and
the rain which falls from the
sky is many billions of years
old. Only, it keeps changing its
form in the hydrologic cycle.
Water is essential for all
ecosystem services. Sixty per-
cent of human body is water.
Human brain and heart both
are seventy-three percent
water. The energizer of life,
the plasma which is about fifty
percent blood is ninety-two
percent water.
Despite the feats of
advancement achieved in var-
ied fields, food is yet not pro-
duced in lab. Human has to
still grow food in the most
primitive and only manner by
culturing land, and least to
say that needs water.
Such a treasure the water
is.
Water - The Challenges
Water has coexisted with
nature since eons in harmony,
and human has survived and
evolved in this coexistence.
But, off-late this balance has
been disturbed by the anthro-
pogenic activities to a level
that the impending water cri-
sis has become a cause of seri-
ous concern.
The careless human
actions have polluted our
resources, emptied the
aquifers some of which would
take centuries to recharge,
ran the rivers dry, shrunk the
lakes, destroyed the life-sus-
taining wetlands and killed
the uncountable biodiversity.
We failed to understand
water as a ‘resource’ and
exploited it like any other nat-
ural resource without an inte-
grated policy for its conserva-
tive and efficient use on sus-
tainable basis.
Increasing global popula-
tion is making this resource
scarcer. The competing
demands for drinking, agricul-
ture, industrial, commercial
and environmental require-
ments is putting immense
pressure on this limited
resource.
The burgeoning urban
requirement, and sanitation
and quality issues are coming
to the fore aggressively. The
trans-boundary water con-
flicts are increasing by the day
in almost all regions of the
world.
Finding solutions by allow-
ing free market forces to
determine the water prices,
keeping in tandem the idea of
water as a human right is
becoming increasingly chal-
lenging. Attracting capital for
new projects of the water util-
ities and retrofitting the old
water infrastructure calls for
innovative financial products.
In the changed scenario
and the rising water conflicts,
the existing regulatory regime
in water sector has rendered
itself insufficient and ineffec-
tive.
The scenario has become
more critical because of the
threat which the climate
change poses on our water
EXPRESS WATER

resources. Hence, it is a high
time we start deliberating and
implementing the water man-
agement plan keeping all
these aspects in perspective.
Integrated Water Re-
sources Management
(IWRM)
Water is intricately linked
with environment, ecology,
nature and human. In the era
of anthropocene, human activ-
ity has severely impacted the
manner in which the climate
and the biophysical environ-
ment interact with the
humans. Not only the water
has been so far handled as an
entity in seclusion from the
whole ecosystem, but it has
also been further broken
down into silos like surface
water, groundwater, rivers,
lakes, glaciers, snow, ice, rain,
sea and many others, to its
peril.
Since the late twentieth
century the direction of scien-
tific research has been guided
by the reductionist approach
of breaking the research sub-
ject endlessly into smaller
segments to study them in
detail. This has made us spe-
cialists, but in some contexts
it has unconsciously made our
understanding of issues blink-
ered as well. We fail to appre-
ciate the holistic perspective
of many common natural phe-
nomena. It is something like
missing the wood for the
trees. Waking up late to the
most severe challenges of the
twenty-first century like envi-
ronmental degradation and
climate change is, to some
extent, a result of this reduc-
tionist approach only.
Water also didn’t remain
immune to this approach of
human development and sci-
entific endeavours. And, this
has landed us in a situation
where water management has
become an arduous task for
sustainable survival of the
present and the future genera-
tions.
Experts across the world
after studying the theory and
evaluating the practices of
water management have con-
cluded that the policy inter-
ventions based on Integrated
Water Resources
EXPRESS WATER
Management (IWRM) con-
cept are the vital need of the
time.
The Dublin principles of
1992 recommended IWRM as
a participatory planning and
implementation protocol, the
foundation of which lies on the
framework of Social equity,
Economic efficiency and
Ecological sustainability.
IWRM tackles the water man-
agement and development
issue taking into account how
water interacts with land and
its other biophysical environ-
ment of which human is an
overpowering part. Role of
community is at the helm of
IWRM practices.
Water is a trans-discipli-
nary subject. It traverses the
disciplines of engineering,
sociology, polity, water eco-
nomics, gender aspects as
well issues like community
participation. There are var-
ied uses and users of water
which makes it a multi-stake-
holder subject too. To name a
few- irrigation, drinking water
for human and livestock,
domestic requirements,
industrial & commercial uses,
ecological requirements and
need for recreational purpos-
es where water is an integral
part of human life.
Various academic disci-
plines intersect with the water
sector like, hydrology, hydro-
geology, hydraulics, meteorol-
ogy, geology, environmental
sciences, ecology, oceanology,
climatology, social science and
many more.
Water appears in different
forms on earth, like-rain and
snowfall, ice peaks, in lakes
and ponds, in flowing rivers,
as groundwater, as moisture
in soil and air, and last but not
the least, within living organ-
isms to sustain life. But, once
it falls on earth’s surface, it
moves in the hydrologic and
hydrogeologic cycle, common-
ly known as water cycle. Most
simple water cycle is from
precipitation (rainfall) to sur-
face water (lakes, ponds,
water bodies and flowing
rivers), to infiltration (ground-
water), evapotranspiration,
net baseflow from groundwa-
ter to river streams, and back
to sea to restart the cycle.
Different users intercept
water at different stages in the
water cycle for their use.
As per the Global Water
Partnership, “Integrated
Water Resources
Management is a process
which promotes the coordi-
nated development and man-
agement of water, land and
related resources in order to
maximise economic and social
welfare in an equitable man-
ner without compromising the
sustainability of vital ecosys-
tems and the environment.”
The water resources policy of
the nation needs to be endeav-
ouring more for achieving this
goal.
Unsplittable Surface and
Groundwater
IWRM is a vast subject to
deal with. One important
aspect is the role which the
surface water and groundwa-
ter play in the overall water
management plan, they being
the major sources to obtain
water for variety of uses. For
the reason of limitation of
space, only this particular
aspect of IWRM is being dis-
cussed hereinafter in this arti-
cle.
Any water management
policy has to deal with each
and every aspect of the water
cycle by defining the water
balance equation at every
stage of flow of water in the
ecosystem. Water balance
equation is the dynamics of
inflow and outflow of water
into and out of a system. The
most important is the under-
standing, that the surface
water infiltrates into the
ground to get stored as soil
moisture, groundwater and
return as base flow to the
river streams, and also, when
the water balance is tilted in
the opposite, the stream water
enters into the aquifer as the
groundwater.
An isolated treatment of
either the groundwater or the
surface water will not yield to
efficacious outcome of any
water policy. Unfortunately in
our country we are yet to see a
regulatory framework dealing
with both in an integrated
manner.
Integrated surface and
NATURE FOR WATER
groundwater management
policy is essential as it is the
common precipitation which
changes its form as surface
water or groundwater at dif-
ferent times in the water
cycle.
Excessive drawl of ground-
water from aquifer may
impact the rivers run dry
because of reduced base flow.
Consequently, this may
adversely affect the water
storage in dams and other
water bodies downstream.
Also, the reduced surface flow
will reduce the recharge of the
groundwater aquifer.
Groundwater management
is crucial for integrated plan-
ning. Of the total fresh water
available on earth 68.7 percent
is in form of ice caps and gla-
ciers, 30.1 percent is ground-
water and only remaining 1.2
percent is surface water and
water in other forms. This
breakup is self explicit as to
why groundwater is of prime
importance.
Over sixty percent of water
requirement for irrigation in
country is fulfilled by ground-
water, and remaining is
sourced from surface water.
The strong roots of food secu-
rity are embedded in the suffi-
cient availability of water for
irrigation. Since the major
area under irrigation is served
by groundwater, the criminal
pace at which it is being
extracted will put the goal of
food-security-for-all-citizens
under jeopardy.
Sixty percent of rural and
forty percent of urban drink-
ing water needs are still met
by groundwater.
Precipitation falling on
earth traverses the water-
shed. Part of it gets collected
in surface water bodies, and
part infiltrates and recharges
the aquifers. Some part of
groundwater adds to the river
streams as base flow, and the
surplus falls into the sea.
Conjunctive water
resource management of sur-
face and groundwater necessi-
tates the understanding of
hydrology and hydraulics of
the surface water, and hydro-
geology of the groundwater
aquifer systems.
Few important aspects are,
firstly, that the watershed on
the surface and the aquifers
under the ground do not nec-
essarily overlap, and neither
do they match with the admin-
istrative units like districts
and blocks. Hence, it is essen-
tial for the policymakers to
recast all programs and
schemes for water conserva-
tion considering the water-
shed, which is a river basin at
the macro level, and the spa-
tial, temporal and hydrogeo-
logic characteristics of the
groundwater aquifer in per-
spective.
Secondly, the groundwater
is a dynamic entity and is an
integral part of the whole
water ecosystem. It interacts
with the surface water system
whenever it spatially comes
across a river stream, a lake
or the sea. Over drawl of
aquifers reduces the base flow
and brings the river level
down than the normal levels.
Infiltration of surface runoff
into the aquifers depends on
the nature of its geological for-
mation. For example, in allu-
vial aquifer the water would
infiltrate and travel fast as
compared to the hard starata
aquifer. Hence, the contribu-
tion of groundwater as base
flow to the surface water
streams is determined by the
type of the aquifer.
For the government agen-
cies it is necessary to appreci-
ate that a water harvesting
structure above a hard strata
aquifer, in comparison to the
one above the alluvial aquifer,
will add less to the groundwa-
ter table through recharge
and will lose more water as
evaporation. Whereas, a
water harvesting structure on
an alluvial aquifer, if built
close to the discharge points
of a river stream, will lead to
relatively faster percolation of
water to join the river stream
as base flow.
In both of the above cases
the public money spent would
not accrue the desired results.
So, the criterion of site selec-
tion for the water harvesting
structures is not only the
availability of surplus surface
water, but also the character-
istics of the aquifer. This is
hardly followed in field.
February, 2018 25
 COVER STORY
Advance knowledge and data
availability about the water
balance equation should be an
essential component for plan-
ning of any water project,
small, medium or large.
Thirdly, groundwater
extraction at greater depths is
dependent on diesel or elec-
tricity charged pumps.
Declining water table is chal-
lenged by stronger pump
capacities involving higher
investment and enhanced
operation charges, which
slowly becomes out of reach of
the small and marginal farm-
ers. This causes further
inequity in exercising of their
right of groundwater usage.
To the contrary the surface
water schemes which have
topographical limitations to
carry water should be more
iniquitous than the groundwa-
ter which is a common pool
resource and the aquifer is
geographically more extend-
ed. The defective policy provi-
sions and poor regulatory
framework has led us to such
a situation.
Fourthly, as explained ear-
lier, in any country, there is a
strong nexus between the
groundwater extraction and
the energy policy regarding
energizing of pumps.
Fifthly, appropriate policy
environment and regulatory
framework with prudent man-
agement are must for more
equitable use of water, and to
combat the quality issues
which have arisen from
geogenic leaching by over-
draw of groundwater.
Lastly, groundwater is an
open-access common pool
resource which is least regu-
lated. The owner of the land is
treated as the owner of the
water below the land, this
makes it open access. Over
drawl by one person impacts
the availability to the others,
which makes it a common pool
resource. This very nature has
made the groundwater, as oft-
quoted, ‘the tragedy of the
commons’.
Groundwater being an
open-access common pool
resource has led to it iniqui-
tous distribution. Rich and
powerful remain a step ahead
and dig deeper to claim the
26 February, 2018
pool more and before the
weaker ones.
This very nature mandates
stricter regulatory mecha-
nism with community partici-
pation for sustainable man-
agement of groundwater
resource.
Irrigation Water Use
Agriculture sector is the
biggest and the most ineffi-
cient water user. The water
transmission efficiency of
large irrigation projects is
sometimes as low as sixty per-
cent. Major quantity is lost
during the transfer of water
from the storage dam to the
field. On field water applica-
tion efficiency is in the range
of thirty to forty percent.
Water-logging and increas-
ing salinity in cropped areas
indicates the acute and crimi-
nal apathy towards the issue
of efficient water application
practices for cultivation.
Vision for conjunctive use of
groundwater along with sur-
face water for cultivation
should be made abundantly
clear in policy terms to obvi-
ate salinity situations in com-
mand areas.
Efforts are needed to
transform agricultural prac-
tices, promote the use of
treated sewage water and
pressure irrigation, make
pressure irrigation mandato-
ry for all new medium and
major irrigation projects, put
in place a farmer participato-
ry regulatory mechanism for
prioritizing cropping pattern
based on agro-climatic zones
and the water account for the
region.
Conservation, Efficiency
and Reuse Measures
The policy-makers have to
appreciate the fine distinction
between the conservation and
efficiency interventions for all
kinds of water uses. Using less
water for shower is conserv-
ing water, and using low flow
shower heads and faucets is
an efficiency measure. Both
interventions need extensive
education and community
sensitisation programs.
Countries like Australia and
Israel are far ahead than most
countries in conservation and
efficiency initiatives.
Reuse of treated water
provides ample water for
most non-drinking use in the
sprawling urban areas. Use of
onsite treated water for land-
scaping, toilet flushing, make-
up water for cooling towers
and irrigation is being now
practised aggressively in
many cities of EU, US and
Australia. Many cities in these
countries in last decade have
brought down their water con-
sumption up to forty to fifty
percent. Proper regulations
and sanitary codes are to be
put in place to make these
strategies acceptable in
Indian cities also.
Water saved by conserva-
tion and efficiency measures
is the extra water made avail-
able at a very less cost. A new
dam costs 8500 times more
than the investment in water
conservation activities.
Eighty percent of urban
water supply is for non-con-
sumptive uses. Meaning, it
can be reused after treatment.
Policy efforts are to be
focussed for transforming the
urban water supply from open
loop to closed loop.
Prudent water pricing
mechanism to enforce water
conservation and its efficient
use is the most critical aspect
needing radical change in the
policy environment. The block
rate mechanism practiced in
the developed world is a good
model to emulate.
Conclusion
The solution to the water
crisis in the twenty-first cen-
tury lies in IWRM approach
with emphasis on groundwa-
ter and surface water man-
agement through community
participation by creating an
Institutional framework
involving all stakeholders
where government agencies
have a limited and niche role
of being a facilitator rather
than a manager keeping com-
mand and control on the
water resources.
Government agencies are
to be sensitized to refrain
from being hasty in evaluating
the success of their water con-
servation programs and cam-
paigns by merely counting the
Experts across the world after studying
the theory and evaluating the practices of
water management have concluded that
the policy interventions based on
Integrated Water Resources
Management (IWRM) concept are the
vital need of the time.
number of works completed,
as water conservation is a
complex subject involving
multiple stakeholders and
varied disciplines. Success of
any program can be assessed
and evaluated majorly on the
basis of effectiveness of inter-
ventions on the water cycle,
the impact on water balance
equation, the manner in which
the water from different por-
tions of water accounts is
being appropriated and used
by different users, and its effi-
cacy in making water avail-
ability more and more fair and
equitable. Mere construction
of water harvesting struc-
tures or diverting water from
one place to another cannot
be counted as a success of any
water policy. Water is a natu-
ral resource and hence calls
for a proactive and not reac-
tive state policy with a pri-
mary aim to reduce its com-
moditization and make it
equally and freely available to
all sections of society both
horizontally and vertically.
An overarching institution-
al and regulatory framework
has to be created to cover all
aspects related to groundwa-
ter and surface water as dis-
cussed above. Particularly
incorporating more spatially
and temporally distributed
data for program formulation.
Extensive aquifer mapping
program is needed, and the
characteristics of dynamics of
each aquifer has to be mapped
to understand its behaviour
towards the hydrologic and
hydrogeologic cycle, so that
the government projects and
spending can be accordingly
fine-tuned.
More attention needs to be
given in devising long-term
plans for incentivizing conser-
vation and efficiency meas-
ures in all sectors agriculture,
domestic, industrial as well as
commercial usage.
Support programs for
industry are vital for promo-
tion of innovative conserva-
tion and efficiency technology.
Human has to prove smart
enough by creating an anthro-
pogenic water use cycle tak-
ing cue from the nature’s
hydrologic cycle for using
same water again and again in
a closed loop.
Last but not the least,
water in all its form in the
water cycle being an integral
part of the ecosystem is essen-
tial for rendering of ecosys-
tem services in a sustainable
manner. The umbrella princi-
ples of maintaining minimum
environmental flow in rivers
and not discharging untreated
water lower than the bench-
marked standards into the
environment are to be
adhered with zero tolerance.
Lest the lines of the 1798 poem
‘The Rime of The Ancient
Mariner’ by Samuel Taylor
Coleridge, ‘Water, water,
everywhere, nor any drop to
drink…’ might become true on
the land also.
About the Author
Ajitabh Sharma, IAS, is
currently working as
Secretary to Government in
Animal Husbandry, Dairying,
Fisheries and Gopalan
Department with the State
Government of Rajasthan,
India. He has done B. Tech.
from IIT Delhi, and has seven
years’ experience in the water
and natural resources man-
agement.
EXPRESS WATER
 NATURE FOR WATER

EXPRESS WATER February, 2018 27

 COVER STORY
AClearer View
The flow data will help steer recovery of Silver Springs - one of the largest artesian springs
ever discovered.
By SonTek
Hydrographers with the St. John River Water Management District (SJRWMD) Geared up Quarterly for an Extensive Study of a Six-Mile Reach of Florida’s Silver River.
SINCE THE 1870S, the crys-
tal clear waters of Silver
Springs have provided mil-
lions of visitors a glimpse into
primeval Florida, a world of
buried caverns, bubbling
springs and cruising alliga-
tors, manatees and long-nosed
gar. Florida’s oldest tourist
attraction, Silver Springs is
one of the largest artesian
springs ever discovered.
But the once-pristine
springs and the Silver River
that flows from them are
28 February, 2018
threatened by Florida’s grow-
ing population. Spring flows
have declined due to a combi-
nation of climate, surface
drainage alterations, and
groundwater pumping. High
levels of nitrates and other
nutrients flow into the aquifer
that feeds the springs from
lawns, farms, septic systems,
faulty sewers and urban
runoff - background concen-
trations of nitrates in the river
jumped 20-fold, from 0.05
mg/l to 1 mg/l, during a 50-
year study. Invasive plants,
including hydrilla, have upset
the ecological balance of the
plant community. And algae,
fueled by nutrient-enriched
flows, coats native eelgrass
and floats on the water’s sur-
face, dulling the system’s sap-
phire glow.
Mitch Wainwright, a
Hydrographer for the St.
Johns River Water
Management District (SJR-
WMD) in Palatka, Florida,
grew up visiting Silver
Springs. Now he is collecting
data that will help inform
restoration efforts for the
springs.
“As a kid in the early ‘60s, I
remember how clear it was,”
Wainwright says. “I’ve seen a
difference in my lifetime. It’s
amazing.”
Go With the Flow
Wainwright’s exploration
of the springs goes far beyond
childhood memories and casu-
al observation. Over the past
two years, he has carefully
measured velocity and flow
eight times in a six-mile
stretch of the Silver River,
which connects Silver Springs
to the Ocklawaha River, build-
ing a database of flow and veg-
etation characteristics that
will help scientists under-
stand the dynamics of the
river and build a model to pre-
dict its behavior.
One of the biggest chal-
lenges in collecting data, he
says, is the thick, submerged
EXPRESS WATER

Mitch Wainwright of the St. John River Water Management District (SJRWMD) Figures He Paddled More 200 to 300 Miles While Measuring Depth, Flow and Velocity of a Six-Mile Reach of the
Silver River in 2015 and 2016.
aquatic vegetation - some nat- couple of inches to four or five it. It can alter the velocity pat-
ural, some invasive - that feet high,” Wainwright notes. tern and changes where the
grows in the river and can “It changes by the season, but velocity is in the channel.”
alter water movement. there are times when it gets so Several years ago, during
“The vegetation can be a thick you can’t paddle through an extremely hot summer, the
lower river surface was com-
pletely covered with vegeta-
tion. Wainwright and his col-
leagues were not able to docu-
ment whether the thick mats
of plants had dammed the
river’s flow that season, but
the situation alerted them to
the need for an in-depth study
of the physics and biology of
the river. The timing was per-
fect: the SJRWMD was
launching a comprehensive
springs research effort with
the University of Florida, and
the State of Florida initiated
significant funding to help
implement restoration proj-
ects. Understanding the vege-
tation dynamics would be a
critical step.
“The aquatic vegetation is
a very good indicator of water
quality,” Wainwright says.
“Seasonal changes are impor-
tant due to the variation of
sunlight and discharge pat-
terns.”
Submerged aquatic vegeta-
tion does more than alter
water flow—it also interferes
Using Four Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs), the SJRWMD Team with Wainwright’s ability to
Gathered Extensive Data on the Height of Underwater Vegetation and the measure flow and velocity all
Flow of Water in the Silver River - Insight That will Help Managers Protect the way to the bottom of the
the Pollution-Prone System. river.
EXPRESS WATER
NATURE FOR WATER
“Basically, we’re getting a ings by divers and surveyors
picture of the top of the along four lateral transects in
canopy,” he explains. the river, analysts will be able
Comparing canopy depth to calculate the waxing and
data with true-bottom read- waning of the submerged veg-
Mysterious Foundations
Silver Springs - a network of two dozen or more springs
in central Florida - bubble up through central Florida’s
Karst formations, limestone beds that have been carved by
acidic groundwater and rain into baroque networks of
caves, channels, domes, and tunnels. Channels in the matrix
flow with underground rivers and provide quick conduits
between surface water and shallow groundwater. As the
domes collapse and sinkholes form, ancient paths are
rerouted beneath the surface.
That makes flow studies incredibly complex and makes
the once-pristine Silver Springs and Silver River system
highly sensitive to pollution.
“The Karst geology is a great transporter of water from
surrounding areas,” says Mitch Wainwright, the
Hydrographer for the St. Johns River Water Management
District. “The underground ‘rivers’ efficiently move water
throughout the aquifer. Rainfall is a constant contributor,
but it also has the effect of washing nutrients and other
potential pollutants into the upper Floridian aquifer.”
In fact, that effect can take place much more quickly than
scientists once assumed. Wainwright describes a dye test in
the aquifer near Silver Springs to track the travel time of a
marked sample of water through the landscape.
“It’s really quite amazing - they were expecting it to take
six months, but it got there in two weeks,” he says. “It can
move a lot faster than we thought.”
With that in mind, Wainwright and his colleagues at the
district - and research collaborators at the University of
Florida - are working to find ways to protect Silver Springs
and the Silver River from nutrients and other pollutants
that are coursing through hidden channels to threaten these
unique ecosystems.
February, 2018 29
 COVER STORY

Mitch Wainwright Designed a Lightweight PVC Linkage to Connect RiverSurveyor Hydroboards to Boats and Kayaks, Ensuring Reliable Positioning of the ADCPs in the Water. The Alligator
in the Background Seems Impressed.

etation from season to season. hydroboard on one end and a User-Friendly Instruments to measure flow and velocity the Silver River a challenging
GPS-pinpointed permanent kayak on the other, which Wainwright says the at depths of a few centimeters place to profile.
markers hammered into the allows a hydrographer to RiverSurveyor M9 - which to 40 meters - is ideally suited “The RiverSurveyor has
riverbed provide fixed refer- steer the instrument without uses nine transducers and for the complex bathymetry been extremely reliable dur-
ences for river bottom reading interfering with how it floats. multiple acoustic frequencies and dense forests that make ing all conditions,” he says. “I
sites, with surveys providing
bed angles and the slope of the
bank. They also guide the
divers and kayak-paddling
hydrographers along the tran-
sect paths.
In total, Wainwright con-
ducts 11 transects across the
Silver River every three
months to profile flow, velocity
and canopy depth using
RiverSurveyor M9 systems
produced by SonTek, a Xylem
brand. The RiverSurveyor
systems are equipped with a
hydroboard floating platform
and a power and communica-
tions module that includes an
integrated GPS system.
Wainwright and his team
from the district also conduct
12 longitudinal transects every
quarter, profiling flow, veloci-
ty, direction and canopy depth
along a six-mile reach. The
district uses four
RiverSurveyors in the mas-
sive data-gathering effort.
Wainwright designed a light-
weight PVC frame that attach- The M9 ADCP in the RiverSurveyor Switches Acoustic Frequencies Automatically to Provide Seamless, Accurate Data as Depth and Conditions
es to each RiverSurveyor’s Change.

30 February, 2018 EXPRESS WATER


Data from 12 Longitudinal and 11 Latitudinal Transects of the Silver River Yields High-Resolution Data that Helps Hydrographers Visualize the
Contours the River as well as Flow Velocity and Direction on a 6-Mile Reach. 3D Velocity Stream Traces Through a Portion of the River,
Demonstrating Both Speed and Direction of the Flow Within Cubeit™ Software by WaterCube.
was especially amazed to see With its multiple acoustic fre- figures in the field. Calibration
the integrated GPS system quencies, the system will takes five minutes - it’s a sim-
pick up numerous satellites switch from measuring in ple self-test.
through heavy tree canopies shallow water to deep water “You can teach just about
during the summer season. automatically, and it autocon- anyone how to operate the
RiverSurveyor,” Wainwright
adds. “You just need a very
experienced ADP data collec-
tion technical person on hand
to ensure that everybody’s col-
lecting data properly.”
Wainwright says he uses
the RiverSurveyors in tandem
with a SonTek CastAway
CTD, a baseball-sized conduc-
tivity, temperature and depth
instrument that provides
instant insight into salinity
and temperature conditions
that can impact acoustic sig-
nals.
SonTek product manager
Isaac Jones says Wainwright
and the SJRWMD team have
tapped into the versatility and
performance features of the
RiverSurveyor M9 in a clut-
tered, complex environment.
“Mitch and his colleagues
provide an amazingly detailed
A Survey Line Plan (Top Left) in SonTek HydroSurveyor Software Guides look at the characteristics of
SJRWMD Hydrographers with RiverSurveyor M9 Systems as They the channel - dominated by
Paddle Florida’s Star Lake (Top Right) to Gather Highly Detailed Data on vegetation, logs and a maze of
Water Depth, Flow, Direction and Velocity (Lower Left). HydroSurveyor cypress tree roots - and their
Interpolates the Data to Yield Easy-to-Interpret Graphics (Bottom Right) impacts on flow through the
from the Data. river,” Jones says. “They have
EXPRESS WATER
NATURE FOR WATER
harnessed the capabilities of
the RiverSurveyor’s
SmartPulse system to auto-
matically select the optimum
frequency, ping rate and pro-
cessing techniques to provide
valuable data as the river’s
depth and velocity change in a
very challenging application.
Working in a heavily forested
environment, they rely heavily
on the RiverSurveyor teleme-
try and GPS package.
“The tool works well, but
nothing works perfectly in an
environment like this,” Jones
adds. “Mitch and his team
have overcome many obsta-
cles through hard work, cre-
ativity, ingenuity, and collabo-
ration with other experts. The
insight they are providing on
flow and detailed channel bot-
tom features will complement
the growing understanding of
Interpolated Bathymetry Along the Silver River Reach Showing
CastAway CTD Cast Locations.
water quality parameters and
pollution to provide a deep
look into this fascinating envi-
ronment.”
Data Visualization
The immense amount of
data collected during the
SJRWMD’s quarterly tran-
sects was processed through
WaterCube, which combines
data sets from multiple
ADCPs and filters the data to
yield highly accurate visual-
izations of the Silver River.
Wainwright and his team
capture details in cells as
small as two centimeters in
area and velocity measure-
ments accurate to 0.001
meters per second, providing
WaterCube with high-defini-
tion (HD) data to create pin-
sharp graphics.
“WaterCube processing
has been a giant plus,”
Wainwright says. “They are
able to screen out the ques-
tionable data that is generated
from situations like side lobe
interference, GPS multipath
from dense tree canopy, and
bottom-tracking issues when
dealing with subsurface
aquatic vegetation. For me to
do that manually would take
10 years. And their 3-D and
cross-section velocity visuali-
zation helps us explore the
dataset rapidly.”
Ultimately, SJRWMD’s
Silver River flow data will
form the basis of a hydrody-
namic model that will allow
scientists to predict the flow
of water. That insight will be
combined with research cur-
rently being conducted by col-
laborators at the University of
Florida on water quality, ecol-
ogy and aquifer transport to
provide a clearer view of the
workings of the mysterious,
complex and compellingly
beautiful world of Florida’s
spring-fed rivers.
February, 2018 31
 COVER STORY
Projects for Water Resources,
River Development,and Ganga
Rejuvenation: AReview
The Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways,
Shipping and Water Resources, River Development & Ganga
Rejuvenation, Nitin Gadkari
Major Activities Under National Mission for
Clean Ganga
Under Namami Gange programme, a total of 187
projects worth Rs. 16565.34 crore have been sanc-
tioned for various activities such as sewage infra-
structure, ghats and crematoria development, river-
front development, river surface cleaning, institu-
tional development, biodiversity conservation,
afforestation, rural sanitation, and public participa-
tion.
93 projects out of 187 were sanctioned for the cre-
ation of 2205.08 MLD new Sewage Treatment Plants
(STPs), rehabilitation of 564.3 MLD of existing STPs
and laying/rehabilitation of 4762.4 km sewer network
for abatement of pollution in river Ganga and
Yamuna.
Within a year of reconstitution of NMCG as an
Authority (October 07, 2016 to October 07, 2017), 44
projects worth Rs 7,547.87 crore were approved by
the Executive Committee. These projects pertain to
the creation of adequate sewage treatment capaci-
ties in Ganga basin States - Uttarakhand (17) Uttar
Pradesh (10), Bihar (11) Jharkhand (1) West Bengal
(3) and Delhi (2). Total STP capacity of 1402.26 MLD
will be created with the approval of these projects
and sewer network length of 1429.24 km will be laid
down.
In a paradigm shift in sewage sector in the past
32 February, 2018
one year, works on two STP projects (50 MLD in
Varanasi and 82 MLD in Haridwar) have been start-
ed under Hybrid Annuity PPP mode (HAM). Other
projects sanctioned under HAM are Naini, Jhusi,
Phaphamau, Unnao, Shuklaganj and Farrukhabad in
Uttar Pradesh, Digha, Kankarbagh and Bhagalpur in
Bihar, Howrah, Bally and Tolly’s Nallah in Kolkata.
36 Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring Station
(RTWQMS) are operational under Namami Gange
programme.
For abatement of industrial pollution, the survey
of all 1109 Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs) was
conducted. Out of 1109 GPIs, 333 were closed and clo-
sure notices were given to non-complying GPIs.
For River Front Development, works at 111 ghats
and 46 crematoria are in progress and expected to be
completed by 2018. For river surface cleaning, 11
trash skimmers have been deployed at Haridwar,
Garh Mukhteshwar, Kanpur, Varanasi, Allahabad,
Patna, Sahibganj, Nabadwip, Kolkata, Delhi, and
Mathura-Vrindavan.
On rural sanitation front, all 4464 villages on the
bank of river Ganga have been made Open
Defecation Free (ODF) and 12, 74, 421 Individual
Household Toilets have been constructed.Five State
Ganga Committees and 34 District Ganga
Committees constituted for effective monitoring of
projects and activities.
Six public outreach programmes were organised
in five main stem Ganga basin States. They are
Ganga Swachhta Pakhwada, Ganga Sankalp Divas,
Ganga Nirikshan Yatra, Ganga Dusshera, Ganga
Vriksharopan Saptah, and Swachhta Hi Seva
Pakhwada.
The participation of corporates in Namami Gange
programme grew stronger with successful comple-
tion of two road shows - London and Mumbai.
Commitments of participation in NMCG activities
have been made by several corporates.
Projects have also been taken up for biodiversity
conservation, conservation of fish and fisheries,
Dolphin conservation, afforestation activities.
Countries like Australia, United Kingdom,
Germany, Finland, and Israel have shown a keen
interest in collaborating with the Indian government
for river Ganga cleaning.
NMCG has signed an MoU with OISCA
International, a leading NGO of Japan to collaborate
in specific activities for pollution abatement and
river rejuvenation.
Water Quality Monitoring: Based on water quali-
ty monitoring being carried out at 124 locations
through manual as well as sensors based real-time
system, it has been observed that water quality trend
on tributaries of Ramganga river viz., Bahela,
Dahela, Kosi and Ramganga itself before its conflu-
ence with Ganga has shown improvements during
the last two years.
Water Resources & River Development
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana
(PMKSY) has been formulated amalgamating ongo-
ing schemes viz. Accelerated Irrigation Benefit
Programme (AIBP) of the Ministry of Water
Resources, River Development and Ganga
Rejuvenation (MoWR, RD & GR), Integrated
Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) of
Department of Land Resources (DoLR) and the On
Farm Water Management (OFWM) of Department
of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC). Under
PMKSY, Ninety Nine (99) ongoing Accelerated
Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP)
Major/Medium projects along with their Command
Area Development & Water Management (CADWM)
works having a potential of 76.03 lakh ha. and an esti-
mated cost of Rs. 77595 cr. have been identified in
consultation with States, for completion in phases up
to December 2019. Funding mechanism through
NABARD has been made by the Government for
both central and state share for timely completion of
99 prioritized projects.
No. Item Funds Released
(Rs. In cr.)
2016-17 2017-18
1 AIBP (C.A.) 3308 905.62
2 Polavaram Project 2514 979.36
3 State Share from LTIF 3334 3318.85
Funds Released for AIBP Component During 2016-2017 &
2017-18 (up to December 05, 2017)
Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of three priority
links have been completed viz. Ken-Betwa link proj-
ect (KBLP) Phase-I and II, Damanganga-Pinjal link
project and Par-Tapi-Narmada link project. Various
Statutory Clearances have been obtained for KBLP
Phase-I and the project report is ready for imple-
mentation. Union Minister WR, RD & GR has dis-
cussed KBLP Phase-I with Chief Ministers of U.P.
and M.P. and MoU for water sharing and implemen-
EXPRESS WATER

tation is expected to be signed
shortly. Further, Union
Minister for Water Resources,
River Development and
Ganga Rejuvenation has dis-
cussed Damanganga-Pinjal
link and Par- Tapi-Narmada
link projects with Chief
Ministers of Gujarat and
Maharashtra and shortly the
MoU for water sharing is
expected to be signed in this
regard.
Since April 2017, the cen-
tral assistance of approxi-
mately Rs. 150 crore has been
released for Flood
Management to the States.
Rs. 199.96 crore (Approx)
Central assistance released to
different states Since April
2017, under river Management
Activities & Works related to
Border Areas (RMBA).
Total CA released to state
Govt. under SMI scheme was
Rs. 232.879 crore during the
period FY – 2017-18 (till date).
Total CA released to state
Govt. under RRR scheme was
Rs. 17.3026 crore during the
period FY – 2017-18 (till date).
Rs. 155.92 crore
released/expended to the
States and central implement-
ing agencies under NHP for
the year 2017-18.
Dam Rehabilitation and
Improvement Project has
been taken up with loan assis-
tance from the World Bank for
rehabilitation and improve-
ment of about 223 dams in
seven States (namely
Jharkhand, Karnataka,
Kerala, Madhya Pradesh,
Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and
Uttarakhand) and
Institutional Strengthening of
Central Water Commission
(CWC) and other
Implementing Agencies.
DRIP was originally planned
to be implemented over a peri-
od of six-years starting from
April 18, 2012. The project has
now been extended for two
additional years with an
extended completion date to
be June 30, 2020.
National Hydrology
Project (NHP) has been taken
up with the assistance of
World Bank with the total out-
lay of Rs.3679.7674 crore. NHP
is a Central Sector Scheme,
with 100% grant to the States
EXPRESS WATER
with World Bank Assistance
to the tune of 50% of the proj-
ect cost. It has pan India cov-
erage with 49 Implementing
Agencies (IAs) (including 10
from Central Government and
39 from States). The project
has a total duration of eight
years from 2016-17 to 2023-24.
The project objective of NHP
is to improve the extent, qual-
ity, and accessibility of water
resources information, deci-
sion support system for floods
and basin level resource
assessment/planning and to
strengthen the capacity of tar-
geted water resources profes-
sionals and management insti-
tutions in India.
NWM has focused on
improving water use efficien-
cy. During 2016-17, 21 Baseline
Studies and during 2017-18,
five baseline studies for
improving water use efficien-
cy for irrigation projects have
been taken up in
Major/Medium Irrigation
projects located in Assam,
Manipur, Telangana, Andhra
Pradesh, Kerala, and
Maharashtra.
The mediation efforts of
Ministry of Water Resources,
RD&GR have helped the
states of J&K and Punjab
reach an agreement under its
aegis to resume works of
Shahpur Kandi Dam project
in Punjab/J&K. Both the
Governments have ratified the
agreement and construction
of the project to be resumed
shortly.
MI (Stats) Wing conducts
quinquennial census of minor
irrigation structures in the
Country which throws light on
important parameters like
number of Minor Irrigation
structure, type of lifting
devices, source of energy,
source of finance, Irrigation
Potential Created, Irrigation
Potential Utilized, Culturable
command area etc. which
have important bearing on
policy formulation of irriga-
tion Sector. 5th Minor irriga-
tion Census has been complet-
ed with the reference year
2013-14 and the same has been
put on the website of the
Ministry in November 2017.
MoU Signed in 2017: India-
Netherlands: A memorandum
of understanding between
India and the Netherlands
was signed on June 27, 2017 on
cooperation in the field of
Water Management by collab-
orating and sharing of experi-
ence and expertise in the
areas mutually agreed upon,
including technique in river
basin management planning/
integrated water resources
management, pollution abate-
ment for river including river
Ganga, decision support sys-
tems, delta management-
water safety including flood
management along rivers,
water management, water
quality issues and wastewater
recycling, and re-use through
innovative concession
arrangement.
The programme named
National Aquifer
Management (NAQUIM) for
mapping of water-bearing
aquifers has been planned
with an aim to enhance the
capacity of states in Ground
Water Management and
Development. Total targeted
area for National Aquifer
Mapping and Management
Programme was 8.89 lakh sq.
km including 5.25 lakh sq.km
prioritized area (during 2012-
17) against 24 Lakh sq. km
area identified for mapping in
the country. By the end of
March 2017, aquifer maps and
management plans were
developed for an area of 6.31
lakh sq. km. During April 2017
to October 2017, an additional
area of 1.38 lakh sq. km has
been covered under aquifer
mapping and management
plan taking the total coverage
to 7.69 lakh sq. km, which is
shared/would be shared with
the respective State
Governments agencies.
The two-day event ‘Jal
Manthan-4’ was organized on
July 28-29, 2017 at New Delhi
by National Water
Development Agency
(NWDA) with the technical
support of Central Water
Commission.
The fifth edition of India
Water Week was observed
during October 10-14, 2017
New Delhi. It was inaugurated
by President of India Shri
Ram Nath Kovind. The theme
for this year’s India Water
NATURE FOR WATER
week was “Water and Energy
for Inclusive Growth”. There
was also an exhibition running
in parallel supporting the
theme and showcasing the
technologies, latest develop-
ments, and solutions available
for the areas in, water and
energy.
Ministry of Water
Resources, RD & GR has com-
pletely operationalized the
eOffice. This Ministry has
more than 90% electronic
Files usage in eOffice and the
percentage of Physical Files
being used is less than 10%
only. The MIS / Dashboard for
monitoring the Physical and
financial achievement of 99
projects under PMKSY has
been developed and launched
in public domain. The work
done in the development of
PMKSY Dashboard has been
appreciated by Principal
Secretary to PM as well.
Several measures have
been adopted by this Ministry
to increase the grievance dis-
posal rate lodged on
CPGRAMS Portal as well as
received physically resulting
in 98% disposal from 88% in
previous year.
The following projects
completed successfully by
WAPCOS, MoWR, RD & GR:-
• Afghan-India Friendship
Dam Project, Herat
Province, Afghanistan
Development of Six
Irrigation Schemes in
Champassack Province, Lao
PDR.
• Project Management for
Augmentation of Water
Supply Scheme in Dar-Es-
Salaam and Chalinze,
Tanzania, Stung Tasal Dam
Project, Cambodia.
• Preparation of Feasibility
Report and Detailed Project
Report on Sewerage and
Sewage Treatment for
Bhopal City.
• Project Management
Consultancy for Madhya
Pradesh Urban
Development Project,
Bhopal (World Bank
Funded).
• Project Development and
Management Consultant
(PDMC) for Atal Mission for
Rejuvenation and Urban
Transformation including
Project Management of
Haryana and Madhya
Pradesh.
Major Activities in 2017 by
Peninsular River Wing
In the year 2017 Dam
Break Analysis works were
conducted on 64 Dams for
preparation of Inundation
maps. Emergency Action
Plans (EAPs) prepared by
State IAs have been reviewed
and commented upon by
CPMU.
Total of 109 NITs worth Rs.
600 Cr were issued since
January 2017 and works of 145
packages worth Rs. 373 Cr
were awarded till date. During
this period, within a period of
11 months, an expenditure of
Rs. 596 cr. was incurred.
One Dam Safety
Conference was organized in
Roorkee in which 466 delegate
organizations showcased their
products, technology, and
services there.
Four Draft Guidelines on
various aspects of dam safety
have been prepared under the
project and in the process of
finalization.
Third Party Evaluation
Study of DRIP scheme has
been carried out by the IIT
Roorkee.
Proposal for DRIP-II cov-
ering 684 dams of 18 States
and two central agencies
grossing to amount Rs. 9070
Crore prepared and sent to
MoWR, RD & GR for in-prin-
cipal approval.
Two special Dam Safety
Review Panels have been con-
stituted under DRIP for com-
prehensive dam safety review
Kadana and Bheema and
interim report submitted to
MoWR, RD &GR.
The project “Protection of
Majuli island from flood and
erosion” was approved by the
MoWR, RD & GR for a value
of Rs 237 crores. Out of the
total amount, funding of Rs
207 crores has been provided
by DONER. Brahmaputra
Board has awarded the work
which is presently in progress.
The successful conclusion of
this project will provide suc-
cor to Majuli, which is the
largest river island in the
world, from flood and erosion.
February, 2018 33
 COVER STORY
Biological Treatment Plant in
Russia - World's Largest Industrial
FacilityUsing MBR & EDR
Bashneft and SUEZ have put into operation a complex of biological treatment facilities with
the world’s largest industrial Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) and Electrodialysis Reversal (EDR)
units.
By SUEZ
• Bashneft-Ufaneftekhim
Biological Treatment Plant
will treat up to 84 million
liters of wastewater per day
using SUEZ industrial
wastewater treatment tech-
nology.
• The equipment is being
serviced and maintained by
SUEZ as part of a 15-year
agreement.
• SUEZ remote monitoring
and diagnostic solutions
will help maximize the per-
formance and lower operat-
ing costs.
Bashneft-Ufaneftekhim
refinery, a Rosneft-affiliated
company, has recently inaugu-
rated its biological treatment
plant, Bashneft key nature
protection facility, which
secured its spot as the world's
largest industrial facility using
Membrane Bioreactor (MBR)
and Electrodialysis Reversal
34 February, 2018
(EDR) technologies.
The facilities, located in
the Russian city of Ufa, will
treat up to 84 million liters of
wastewater per day, which
makes them unprecedented
for industrial wastewater
treatment, employing the
most advanced technologies
and enabling water reuse.
SUEZ supplied its
ZeeWeed MBR membranes,
EDR and Reverse Osmosis
(RO) equipment to the
Bashneft-Ufaneftekhim bio-
logical treatment plant and
will provide services as part of
a 15-year long-term service
contract to ensure reliable
operation of equipment and
an uninterrupted guaranteed
replacement of membranes.
The SUEZ MBR technolo-
gy significantly improves
treatment efficiency by pass-
ing water through microscop-
ic pores of membranes,
removing impurities and
microorganisms. Further
treatment is performed with
SUEZ EDR, RO and ion
exchange technologies to
ensure treated wastewater
compliance with the toughest
discharge and reuse regula-
tions and to minimize the
waste streams disposal.
“Environmental care is an
absolute priority for the com-
pany,” said Igor Sechin, the
Chief Executive Officer of
PJSC Rosneft. “We solve this
problem at all stages of the
production chain: from geo-
logical prospecting to pro-
cessing and distribution. I
believe that commissioning of
a modern biological treatment
plant - a large-scale environ-
mental protection facility
using the world best technolo-
gies for water treatment - will
be a significant event not only
for the company and the
Republic of Bashkortostan
but for the whole country.”
As part of the long-term
service contract for the waste-
water treatment plant, SUEZ
is providing advanced asset
performance management
with its InSight platform.
InSight combines data and
analytics to maximize per-
formance, minimize
unplanned downtime, lower
operating costs and deliver
better business outcomes.
“This plant is a shining
example of how advanced
water treatment technologies,
combined with superior serv-
ice and system performance,
serve the interests of society,
the environment and busi-
ness,” said Heiner Markhoff,
the Chief Executive Officer for
SUEZ Water Technologies &
Solutions. “This is a signifi-
cant project for the country,
the region, and the water
industry, and we look forward
to working for the next 15
years to help to optimize
processes and meet water
sustainability goals.”
With 90,000 people on the
five continents, SUEZ is a
world leader in smart and sus-
tainable resource manage-
ment. We provide water and
waste management solutions
that enable cities and indus-
tries optimize their resource
management and strengthen
their environmental and eco-
nomic performances, in line
with regulatory standards. To
meet increasing demands to
overcome resource quality
and scarcity challenges,
SUEZ is fully engaged in the
resource revolution.
With the full potential of
digital technologies and inno-
vative solutions, the Group
recovers 17 million tons of
waste a year, produces 3.9 mil-
lion tons of secondary raw
materials and 7 TWh of local
renewable energy. It also
secures water resources,
delivering wastewater treat-
ment services to 58 million
people and reusing 882 million
m3 of wastewater. SUEZ gen-
erated total revenues of 15.3
billion Euros in 2016.
EXPRESS WATER
 OUT OF THE BOX

Do We KnowOur Water?
The larger public is made to believe that TDS (Total Dissolved Salts/Solids) is the most
important (or dreaded) word today when it comes to checking water quality.
By Chandrasekaran J

ples ranging from 1500 years
old to 300 years old, all lying
as bare testimony to the fact
that our science and engineer-
ing is more complicated yet
long-standing than anything
the world knows.
But that’s not what I am
going to write about, but the
other startling revelation
Chandrasekaran J which happened while visiting
these structures to document
SOUNDS LIKE A silly ques- them is that most of them lie
tion to many, for both in the in villages, those villages
water industry as well as the which are devoid of two basic
users. Indeed not, as I under- needs - Water and Sanitation.
stand and am trying to under- The villagers, caring for us,
stand how w(h)at er(r) exists! would suggest that we buy a
Having been in designing, mineral water bottle or to
development, and manufac- book a room in an adjacent
turing for almost three town or city where we can
decades, it was destiny which relieve ourselves during our
made me pursue heritage morning hours, instead of
restoration. Since 2006, after going out in dark with an open
settling in Chennai, I hap- bucket and open our loins!
pened to be one of the founder This became the turning
members of REACH point in my life. The more I
Foundation, which identifies thought about water and sani-
and restores heritage build- tation and solutions thereof,
ings. Unfortunately for me, I the more intrigued and inquis-
think we opened a Pandora’s itive I became! Having started
box! Later it dawned to me making electricity free water
that more than 1.25 lakh her- purifiers since 2009, as a pro-
itage structures are lying in a prietary firm, later making it
ruined condition, mostly tem- as Watsan Envirotech Private
The regular representative who sells
water purifiers usually pulls out a pen
which he declares as the TDS meter and
thrusts it into the water in question and
he will declare,“High TDS, more than
600, not good, so better use our blah,
blah, blah...”and immediately fits an
octopus like gadget.
Limited, which stands on
these firm verticals of making
water purifiers for the bottom
of the pyramid and to make
toilets, the quicker way with-
out using sand, water and
cement, I have learnt and
unlearnt a lot on understand-
ing water and still am yet to
get the right answers. Hope
elite and bright readers of this
column, doctors, water spe-
cialists or any person who has
a scientific temperament to
look into things, ‘scientifically’
please clarify my doubts.
Let’s talk about water,
again ‘potable’ water...
The regular representative
who sells water purifiers usu-
ally pulls out a pen which he
declares as the TDS meter
and thrusts it into the water in
question and he will declare,
“High TDS, more than 600,
not good, so better use our
blah, blah, blah...” and imme-
diately fits an octopus like
gadget, with so many columns
and wires and tubes which
makes the terrified user
almost be convinced that so
complicated a water can only
be ‘purified’ by this monstrous
machine and he thanks his
holy spirits for bringing this
good Samaritan in.
After that starts the
ordeal. Down the line, say
after few months, the water
again tastes bad, the water
‘machine’ guy re-appears,
says that he can undertake an
AMC (annual maintenance
contract) and he can get rid of
those anxious moments of the
user and his watery blues! (All
said and done but one might
be not aware that his purse
strings should loosen up so
wide to maintain that mainte-
nance costs!)
I was wondering, had I ever
tried to check the water I
drank all these years, had I
not come across this purifier
or filtering machine? As a
school boy, I used to run
across the road end to hit
upon the hand pump, and me
being too small a size, used to
literally fly up and down cling-
ing on to the handle of the
hand pump but hit it so many
times that the water which
gushes out of the spout is good
enough to satiate my thirst, or
just get drowned in a big pond
where my swimmer friends
used to throw me in and see
me gasp for my breath and
drink mouthful of water and
become red eyed! Or for that
reason on the road-side shops
when my bus halts for Tiffin
when I used to travel from
Madurai to Madras (now
Chennai) while studying
Plastics? Never! Then what
changed now?
Indiscriminate pumping of
water through bore has
brought all the metals and ele-
ments which have mixed with
water creating complex salts
and minerals which are hard
to digest and create health
hazards. But again, another
question arises. The water
looks almost clear and where
are these unwanted elements,
be it a salt or mineral, and out
of those which are bad and
which are good? As a science
student in school, we were
taught that many dissolved
salts and minerals act as a
trigger to build immunity and
bone building which are dosed
into our system only through
the water as a medium, as
they cannot be added as food
supplements! What happened
to those good salts and miner-
als? Why are they not there
anymore or heard of? Or is it
that they exist and we forgot
them?
The larger public is made
to believe that TDS (Total
Dissolved Salts/ Solids) is the
most important (or dreaded)
word today when it comes to
checking water quality. The
forced launch of innumerable
Reverse Osmosis machines
(RO machines, as they are
popularly called) have made
this word a mandatory quality
oriented word, but sadly, I
personally am not convinced
of why TDS* should have any
impact on the potability of
water!
TDS is anything - other
than the pure H2O - in water
that you cannot see. This
could include any salt, metal
or mineral, no definition on
what are the salts or minerals
or metals which are detrimen-
tal to your health and at what
levels. Why the parameter
500 ppm was fixed as a good
count for TDS, by most of the
standards, including our own
BIS (Bureau of Indian
Standards), God knows! (Are
may be the RO machine man-
ufacturers’ know?)
Surprisingly I came across
an article written by one of
those authorities from the
World Health Organization
(WHO) which produced a
report in 2004 titled “Health
Risks from Drinking
Demineralised Water”. In it,
they state the following:
“It has been adequately
demonstrated that consuming
water of low mineral content
has a negative effect on home-
ostasis mechanisms, compro-
mising the mineral and water
metabolism in the body.”
Why would consuming
water with a lower mineral
content have a negative effect

36 February, 2018 EXPRESS WATER


The consumers or users should first
understand what their water is, what is
the contamination in it, if any.
on our health?
The WHO article gives 5
points as detailed below:
• Direct effects on the intes-
tinal mucous membrane,
metabolism and mineral
homeostasis or other body
functions.
• Little or no intake of calci-
um and magnesium from
low-mineral water.
• Low intake of other essen-
tial elements and microele-
ments.
• Loss of calcium, magnesium
and other essential ele-
ments in prepared food.
• Possible increased dietary
intake of toxic metals.
In simpler words:
• It affects the body’s metabo-
lism or regular functioning,
• Basic minerals essential to
our health are removed,
• Minerals essential in food
for its healthy ingredients
and flavor is lost
• The free radicals present
reacts with the plumb lines
and corrode iron, copper
etc., creating another set of
direct heavy metals passing
through our system without
our knowledge.
The irony or anomaly is
that even though it is dem-
ineralized, this water from the
RO machines is called as min-
eral water! Some mark it as
‘natural’ mineral water or
‘mineral enriched’ water! Iron
in dissolved form in minuscule
level and the permissible level
is good for the fortification of
our body but it cannot be
added in mineral form as a
supplement, as claimed by
this ‘mineral enrichers’! First,
I ask them, why remove and
then why add? What is that
you are removing and what is
that you are adding?
Let’s take some easy exam-
ples. Suppose I run in our
famous Chennai Marina
beach and forgot to carry my
water bottle. I gasp for breath
due to thirst and am forced to
EXPRESS WATER
drink a gulp of sea water. High
TDS, someone may warn me!
Not tedious, though, I would
say, if not a single E.coli bacte-
ria is present in the gulp,
which could have entered
through the faecal material
that could come from the
nearby fishermen slum!
Or the other extreme!
Another glassful of water,
carefully filtered through an
RO plant, with very less TDS
as 20, bottled and delivered at
your doorstep, is taken by
your maidservant, with an
unclean hand and a villainous
bacteria, the same E.coli
enters the water and to your
system creating Diarrhea! So
now tell me is TDS is harmful
or that bacteria?
The real ingredients which
cause diseases are of course,
the pathogens, primarily
E.coli, coli-form bacteria
which dreadful bacteria, lead,
iron, arsenic, fluoride, high
phosphate, and nitrates.
Why should one ever talk
about the total dissolved
solids, and do we ever asked
the question, how much of
those solids or salts are good
and how many are bad?
So naturally, we conclude
that to have good water, pri-
marily bacteria should be rid-
den off, which can be done
using a porous medium which
cannot allow the pathogens to
pass through! Out of the met-
als, iron causes stomach ache,
pain in the abdomen, rupture
and also kidney failure. Most
north-eastern states and
Bihar, Orissa, Karnataka and
West Bengal are affected with
iron and unfortunately few
states also with arsenic, a slow
poison! Arsenic is also a car-
cinogenic agent, it is con-
firmed by all, and be it the pri-
mary health department, the
water board or the doctors of
that region. Major parts of
Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh,
Telangana, Karnataka and
fewer districts of Tamilnadu
are affected by high levels of
Fluoride which causes fluoro-
sis and or chalking or thinning
of teeth and bones! Sadly,
recent field test by us in
Assam for arsenic and iron
yielded new findings of
Fluoride in many places, sur-
prisingly in the main pockets
of Guwahati itself. Many
regions of North East are not
even approachable by
motorable road but there are
reports of many parts having
water contaminated with
arsenic! No surprise that
many hospitals in India have
cancer patients mostly from
North East, West Bengal or
Bangladesh.
In India, no RO plants are
required for most of the
regions, as salinity is seen only
in pockets of few regions,
mostly close to the sea, in the
Southern region. Statistics
reveal that TDS is almost less-
er than 500 in most places of
the country, wherein only
select contamination through
bacteria or elements as
described above are to be
removed. So the easiest solu-
tion is microfiltration, which
has multiple advantages. No
electricity, no wastage of
water, no replacement costs,
hence more value for money,
eventually the filtered water
almost costs NIL as compared
to the water sold through bot-
tles and bubble tops by many
big MNCs. Is water not a basic
need, is it not the necessary
commodity or consumable the
Government should be giving
free to all its citizens irrespec-
tive of their affordability?
Why is there an anomaly that
the RO machines running to
few lakhs in costs are also sold
in the market and micro-fil-
ters, lower than a thousand of
rupees exist? This cannot be
compared to that of afford-
ability or purchasing power of
a consumer. The prices are a
yo-yo but for style and com-
fort, like we do for an automo-
bile, but drinking water is an
essential need for all citizens.
Why discriminately deploy
RO plants usurping so much
of power, wasting water and
dumping the high saline
residue into our soil, thereby
making the groundwater
more and more saline in days
to come? To generate more
sales of RO plants, through
such tenders which almost
describe any water filtration
plant to be RO, in most of the
Government tenders, to make
more money for the greedy
pockets?
Forget land, imagine the
desalination plants running
converting sea water to drink-
ing water! The huge land is
covered for the plant, which
dumps all solid and liquid
waste on earth, consumes hell
a lot of energy and costs
another bomb for mainte-
nance and up keeping of the
plant, finally dumping the
most concentrated salt back
into the sea! No wonder if
after say 20 years the sea
becomes dead-sea, making
the place unfit for any marine
biosphere or any marine life in
and around the sea! We are
creating more dead seas and
another catastrophe in wait-
ing to further kill the lives of
many fishermen whose lives
depends on marine life!
Simple affordable, electric-
ity-free micro filters using
nano-clay filters are good
enough! They are tested to be
in use for almost 6-7 years
without changing candles or
cartridges and can reach any
last man/woman in the last
mile of water affected area in
the country. As it does not
need electricity and is made
standalone to cater each
household, it can penetrate
the bottom of pyramid easily.
Region-specific allevia-
tions like removal of arsenic,
fluoride, iron, high nitrates
and phosphates (through fer-
tilizers) and high lead or ura-
nium, seen surprisingly in
some parts of India, are sel-
dom focussed by any big play-
ers in the filtration business
and filters are not tailor-made
to cater these people. We, at
Watsan, are simply trying to
do this. It would be a welcome
sign if some experts throw
light on what are all the solids
in water which are by and
large available in Indian
waters, region wise, so that
that could make us work
towards making the perfect
filter for a given geography
and not simply or blindly fall
into the RO(GUE) trap!
To conclude, I would say
the consumers or users
should first understand what
their water is, what is the con-
tamination in it, if any, then
decide upon buying what they
feel fit and best to work in
their specific region or geog-
raphy. This can be done in
testing the water in many of
the primary health-centers or
jal-board (water board) run by
all State Governments, than
blindly following the actresses
or sports persons posing as
doctors of water or experts in
water! Pay good money, they
may the next day disown that
purifier or may be in their own
homes drink water from their
native Matka (earthen clay
pot). What say?
*According to Wikipedia,
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) is
defined as “the combined con-
tent of all inorganic and organic
substances contained in a liquid
that are present in a molecular,
ionized or microgranular sus-
pended form.” The article goes
on to state that “total dissolved
solids are differentiated from
total suspended solids (TSS) in
that the latter cannot pass
through a sieve of two microme-
ters but are indefinitely sus-
pended in solution.”
About the Author
Chandrasekaran. J, often
called as REACH Chandra or
WATSAN Chandra is one of
the founders of the Reach
Foundation, through which
they restore dilapidated tem-
ples using traditional methods
and materials. Through this
journey of documenting her-
itage structures, he happened
to visit many villages where he
found both water and sanita-
tion lacking and hence started
his social enterprise WAT-
SAN which makes electricity
free, maintenance free natural
water purifiers and also
turnkey solutions to make
ready to fit toilets. He is a
national consultant for
UNIDO ICAMT, and has won
two national awards for inno-
vation, and is a life fellowship
researcher in water, from the
Royal Academy of
Engineering, London.
February, 2018 37
OUT OF THE BOX
Drought-Proofing
Australia…The Possible
Dream?
Imagine a drought-proof Australia
where we brought life back to
country towns, provided farmers
with water security, etc.
By Warwick Lorenz
A FEW YEARS ago I picked
up a book at a second-hand
bookshop called “Australia
Replanned”. Thumbing
through it I noted that it was
written in 1944 and published
in January 1945. What drew
me to the book was a fold-out
map of Australia that showed
an inland sea in North East
South Australia with rivers
draining into it, fed from the
northeast sectors of Northern
Queensland.
The book was written by a
gentleman writing under the
name of Veritas. Veritas was a
pseudonym for a journalist
called Luscombe who also, as I
recall as a kid, was writing for
The Truth newspaper in
Sydney.
The book is a call to arms,
warning Australians that they
need to get with it and do
something with this wonderful
huge country of ours. Here are
the key points he makes:
Our Opportunities
Luscombe points out that
in 1944, the war is effectively
over and that we need to start
thinking about what to do with
our country. He draws a paral-
lel with the United States, a
country of 3 million² miles and
a population of 130 million.
38 February, 2018
Australia, he points out, is
2.9 million² miles with a popu-
lation of 7 million. Of that 7
million approximately 1 mil-
lion are in uniform or working
100% in the war effort.
Luscombe also points out
that in the years of the 2nd
World War we tripled the pro-
ductivity of the country and of
course asked the obvious
question…. what next?
The Dead Heart
Luscombe, who of course
was writing long before cli-
mate change, refers to the cen-
tral regions of Australia as the
‘Dead Heart’. He points out
that this was once fertile land
covered with dense and luxu-
rious vegetation, evidenced by
the fossilized remains found in
the Diamantina and Lake Eyre
districts.
Why Not Build an Inland
Sea that Becomes a Vast
“Live Heart”?
It should be pointed out
that Luscombe wrote at a time
when horse-drawn graders
were not that uncommon and
crawler dozers used cable con-
trols to raise and lower tractor
blades.
In spite of that, he dared to
dream that the parched and
EXPRESS WATER

Drought Proofing Australia Map
arid ‘Dead Heart’ of Australia
could be brought to life.
The vision was an inland
sea of approximately 50,000
m² miles. This sea would be
fed by Northern and North
Eastern rivers and the flood
waters diverted back across
The question we
have to ask
ourselves is, are we
ready to carry out
projects like that in
Australia? Ion
Idriess, one of the
great Australian
writers of the 20th
Century, used the
slogan ‘Water is
Life’in a number of
his books.
the Dividing Range to flow
along the dry central river
beds to the Inland Sea.
Let’s Examine This Hare-
Brained Scheme?
In 1944 almost 90% of the
total land area of Australia
was put to very little use.
Those huge areas of land,
mainly arid, barren and use-
less, needed water security.
The question we have to
ask ourselves is, are we ready
to carry out projects like that
EXPRESS WATER
in Australia? Ion Idriess, one
of the great Australian writers
of the 20th Century, used the
slogan ‘Water is Life’ in a num-
ber of his books.
In Luscombe’s plan, an
inland sea would be created
and connected to the Great
Southern Ocean by a canal
from the head of Spencer Gulf
via Lake Torrens. The canal
would be up to half a mile wide
by a depth of around 25 feet!
The bed of Lake Torrens
might be excavated and locks
and pumping stations would
be required in order to pro-
vide the shipping passage sim-
ilar to the Panama Canal.
Luscombe, of course, is
writing at a time when the
greatest civil engineering
feats the world has seen were
considered to be the Panama
and Suez Canals.
He must have been con-
scious of the Hoover Dam,
draining approximately
1000sq miles across 7 states
and capturing up to 740 billion
cubic feet of water from the
Colorado River each year.
When you consider that
the Hoover was built in
around 4-5 years and think of
the primitive equipment and
methods used at the time,
Luscombe’s plan, or some-
thing like it, seems absolutely
achievable. Whether the
drought proofing of the coun-
try or large sections of it, can
be achieved with an inland sea
is questionable in today’s
world and with our 70 years of
additional knowledge.
That water storage and
water security are essential
for the progress of our agri-
cultural industries and to fos-
ter population growth is
beyond dispute.
Why Bother?
In a world where
Australians appear to enjoy
higher wages than just about
anybody else on the planet, we
are sitting on the biggest piece
of an unused real estate in the
world. It is also possibly the
greatest opportunity to pro-
vide food resources for a
growing world population. It
seems that there is plenty of
good reasons to provide farms
and cities with water security.
From a political perspec-
tive, governments of either
persuasion are and will be
faced with financial challenges
that must be addressed. The
country clearly can’t rely
purely on commodity prices to
maintain our lifestyle, create
employment or sustain our
welfare programs. In other
words, something has got to
give.
Imagine a drought-proof
Australia where we brought
life back to country towns,
provided farmers with water
security, built processing
plants to value-add raw prod-
uct and at the same time pro-
vide the Greens with an envi-
ronmental wonderland.
Dropping back to
Luscombe’s dream, he saw
forests throughout the center
of Australia and he wasn’t
even bothered about green-
house gases.
Is There a Market for What
We Produce?
When Luscombe wrote his
book in 1944 the world popula-
tion was three billion. Now we
are seven billion and heading
for ten so it’s highly likely
there will be a market for top
quality food and agricultural
produce for at least the next
thousand years.
The Prime Minister
preaches jobs and growth.
Well here’s a package that will
deliver both big time.
Okay, I have been talking
this up with civil contractors,
farmers, irrigation specialists,
water well drillers and a whole
wide range of folk to test the
water. What I got in return
was astonishment that some-
body had thought on this scale
seventy years ago. I got excit-
ed at the possibility of a vision
that would change the country
forever. I got one hundred per-
cent unqualified support of
the vision.
Of course, the question
everybody asks is “who is
going to do it?”
Gina Rinehart would do it!
Barnaby Joyce would do it!
Most of the people I talk to in
the pump industry would cer-
tainly not only support it but
would happy to be deeply
involved.
Would it rebirth our pump
manufacturing industry?
Maybe it would.
Think about these statis-
tics:
• China had the same sized
economy as Australia in
1990.
• Twenty-six years later, their
economy is sixteen times
ours and they are number
two in the world.
• They have 1.3 billion people,
we have 24 million people.
We produce approximately
60 million people’s worth of
food per year (my rough cal-
culation) and they produce
1.3 billion. In other words,
they produce 22 times more
food than we do but from
about the same landmass.
Let’s assume that we
drought-proof Australia and
can produce 5 times more
food than we do at the
moment, i.e., 300 billion dol-
lars worth.
Wow, that’s bigger than the
iron ore business. Not only
that but it’s a much bigger
employer and there are loads
In a world where Australians appear to
enjoy higher wages than just about
anybody else on the planet, we are sitting
on the biggest piece of an unused real
estate in the world. It is also possibly the
greatest opportunity to provide food
resources for a growing world
population.”
of benefits that we will get
from employment, not the
least of which is lower taxes
for the rest of us.
Lets’ Go!
Luscombe prefaced his
book with the comment that if
he was wrong in his ideas, he
would welcome correction.
He also stated three princi-
ples that appear to be just as
relevant today as they were in
1944. Here they are:
1) Think clearly...without prej-
udice
2) Think fearlessly...with
regard for nothing but the
truth, and
3) Think big...with the knowl-
edge of the almost limitless
possibilities of technology.
As a simple pump man, I
welcome the comments of my
peers. Copies of Luscombe’s
map are freely available from
Australian Pump Industries
and may serve to inspire some
of the readers of this article.
Bring it on!
About the Author
Warwick Lorenz is the
Managing Director of
Australian Pump Industries.
Lorenz is a veteran of water
industry having been drafted
out of an advertising and jour-
nalist’s career at what was the
old Tutt Bryant Group into
managing its water pump
manufacturing division,
Pacific Pump. He has lived
through the destruction of
Australia’s industrial manu-
facturing sector, experienced
the challenges of “recession
we had to have” and tasted the
temporary delights of
Australian mining boom.
February, 2018 39
 CASE STUDY
POWERCHINAZhongnan
Standardizes 3D Collaborative
Design of Water Projects,
Becoming 50% More Efficient
Bentley’s 3D technology reduces wastewater treatment plant design costs by 30 percent.
By Marie Telepneff
The Project Team Developed Optimal Solutions Using Bentley’s 3D Design Applications, which Reduced Inaccuracies in the Prepared Project Designs
by 90%.
New Method to Meet De-
mand
China’s 12th Five-Year Plan
(FYP) (2011-2015) allotted 20
percent more funds for
municipal wastewater treat-
ment projects to address the
pervasive pollution caused by
rapid urbanization and inade-
quate sewage disposal. The
initiative put pressure on lead-
40 February, 2018
ing design institutes to keep
pace with demand for water
pollution prevention and con-
trol projects.
Zhongnan Engineering
Corporation Limited (POW-
ERCHINA Zhongnan)
responded by adopting a new
methodology that made the
process of designing, con-
structing, and operating the
water projects 50 percent
more efficient. Bentley 3D
design technology provided
the capabilities and
ProjectWise enabled a 3D col-
laborative design platform.
POWERCHINA Zhongnan
used Bentley solutions to
standardize its approach to
the CNY 75.8 million
Qingzhen Vocational
Education West Urban
District sewage treatment
plant, then applied the model
on 13 subsequent projects.
The new method reduced
design time and costs by
approximately one-third.
Lagging Technology
A subsidiary of Power
Construction Corporation of
China and HydroChina
Corporation, POWERCHINA
Zhongnan is an award-win-
ning EPC contractor for water
resource, hydropower, wind
power, environmental, and
municipal, industrial, and civil
projects throughout China
and the world.
Despite being one of the
premier design institutes in
China, POWERCHINA
Zhongnan suffered from a lag
in new technology adoption
that caused inefficiencies in
several practice areas. The
company had improved
design efficiency by 75 per-
cent with a Bentley
Enterprise License
Subscription in the hydropow-
er practice area. However, in
water resources project
teams were spending 30 per-
cent of design time coordinat-
ing disciplines and 40 percent
of construction time commu-
nicating with contractors.
The need to update
became urgent when China’s
12th FYP accelerated con-
struction of water pollution
control projects. In 2012,
China set aside nearly CNY 2
trillion for wastewater treat-
ment infrastructure, planning
to build facilities in some 300
cities by 2015. By the end of
the 12th FYP period, China
EXPRESS WATER
 CASE STUDY

expected to increase treat-

ment rates from 77.5 percent
to 85 percent in urban areas,
60 percent to 70 percent in
counties, and 20 percent to 30
percent in townships.
These advances in waste-
water treatment would not
only reduce pollution but also
protect and improve water
quality for the critically short
supply of drinking water.
POWERCHINA Zhongnan
estimated the average design
period for water projects to be
180 days, which was too long
to meet the timetable for the
slate of 14 immediate projects.
To accelerate the process
while maintaining quality, the
company needed to imple-
ment the Bentley solution for
water and wastewater treat-
ment plant design. OpenPlant’s 3D Plant Design Environment Enabled Multi-discipline Modeling of Piping, HVAC, and Electrical.
The 20,000-cubic-meter-
per-day (m3/d) Qingzhen for optimizing and integrating The project team devel- duced an intelligent plant communications among the
Vocational Education West project design, construction, oped optimal solutions for model that could be used design disciplines as well as
Urban District sewage treat- and operations. ProjectWise modularization and standard- throughout the plant lifecycle. with other project partici-
ment plant project presented was implemented as the ideal ization using Bentley software pants. Coordination review
an opportunity to try a more collaboration platform to including AECOsim Building Introducing Design Effi- and clash detection with
advanced methodology that enhance communication and Designer, GEOPAK, ciencies Bentley Navigator quickly
would introduce the 3D tech- coordination among the 10 OpenPlant, and Bentley Information mobility revealed collision points and
nologies to the practice group design disciplines as well as Substation. Each application through all phases enhanced rapidly resolved issues. This
and improve overall efficiency. the parties involved in con- produced the anticipated ben- project participation and efficient review-and-refine
struction and operations. The efits. For example, using reduced time-consuming face- process decreased design
3D Collaborative Environ- platform pushed a standard- GEOPAK’s 3D modeling capa- to-face meetings. Project data time from three months to
ment ized user workspace and pro- bilities to develop plans, pro- was published to i-models, two months.
POWERCHINA Zhongnan vided a common data environ- files, and cross-sections took which were accessible from Handing over the digitized
adopted a portfolio of Bentley ment (CDE) that became the 60 percent less time than pre- desktop, laptop, and mobile 3D information models upon
products that would create a single source of truth for proj- vious methods. More impor- devices while maintaining all project completion provided a
standardized 3D environment ect information. tantly, the selected scheme the original attributes. multi-view display and 3D
minimized land use, reduced The 3D information models roaming video of the plant
water head loss, saved energy, and visualizations simplified that became an indispensable
Project Summary and facilitated maintenance -
saving the client CNY 11.2 mil-
Organization: lion. Fact File
• Zhongnan Engineering Corporation Limited The 3D collaborative envi- • Bentley’s 3D design applications prepared an intuitive design
Solution: ronment invited an iterative scheme for the project bid with 90 percent fewer errors.
• Water and Wastewater Plants approach that significantly • Throughout the project, collaboration, and coordination
Location: improved design quality. among disciplines using Bentley’s 3D design environment
• Qingzhen, Guizhou, China AECOsim Building Designer’s reduced design errors by 90 percent.
Project Objectives: parametric modeling capabili- • POWERCHINA Zhongnan’s standardized design and project
• Design Phase I of the CNY 75.8 million Qingzhen Vocational ties enabled the team to methodology included new design standards, specifications,
Education West Urban District sewage treatment plant, explore alternative building and technical manuals that will benefit water projects
including process, architecture, structure, and electric/auto- geometries. The 3D plant throughout China.
matic controls for all buildings and structures. design environment in ROI:
• Implement Bentley’s 3D collaborative design technology for OpenPlant allowed multi-dis- • POWERCHINA Zhongnan reduced the design time on this
the integrated design, construction, and operation of the cipline modeling of piping, project from three months to two months, saving about CNY
sewage treatment plant. HVAC, and electrical. 200,000 in design costs.
• Develop a standardized design and project methodology that And the integrated model- • Information mobility promoted collaboration and reduced
would shorten the time required to deliver 13 additional ing of the physical and electri- communication time by 50 percent, saving about CNY
water projects. cal designs in Bentley 500,000.
Products Used Substation reduced errors • Subsequent water projects will benefit from the standard-
• AECOsim Building Designer, Bentley Substation, GEOPAK, and omissions. Together, the ized design and project methodology, which will decrease
MicroStation, Bentley Navigator, OpenPlant, and interoperable software accel- design time by 30 percent and increase project team efficien-
ProjectWise erated design review and pro- cy by 50 percent.

EXPRESS WATER February, 2018 41

 CASE STUDY
management capability dur-
ing operations and mainte-
nance. By integrating project
design, construction, and
operations, POWERCHINA
Zhongnan instituted efficien-
cies across the lifecycle of the
sewage treatment plant, to the
ultimate benefit of the client
and customers served.
The standardized design
system implemented for the
Qingzhen Vocational
Education West Urban
District sewage treatment
plant achieved the goal of
reducing design time by 35
percent and design costs by
30 percent. The collaborative
environment also reduced
errors by 90 percent, which
shortened communications
42 February, 2018
with construction contractors
and reduced rework. Overall,
the project achieved CNY
300,000 in savings for the
client.
Exemplary Plant Model
The Qingzhen Vocational
Education West Urban
District sewage treatment
plant exemplified advances in
wastewater treatment tech-
nology, deploying an intelli-
gent water management sys-
tem that unified the process
under one control system. The
system provided intelligent
scheduling, automatic opera-
tion management, and busi-
ness process management.
The efficient systems
required 60 percent less labor
input than prior plants,
enabling virtual operations
that could save roughly CNY
800,000 per year. The
automation also lowered the
risk of human error, reduced
management risk, and height-
ened safety.
With a capacity of 20,000
m3/d, Qingzhen Vocational
Education West Urban
District’s new tertiary treat-
ment plant protects the down-
stream water that supplies
the 4.5 million people of
Guiyang City.
This successful project
now serves as the model for
POWERCHINA Zhongnan’s
subsequent work on 13 other
water projects representing
1.3 million m3/d in capacity,
serving nearly 47 million peo-
ple, and totaling an invest-
ment of CNY 6.4 billion.
P O W E R C H I N A
Zhongnan used Bentley soft-
ware to explore new avenues
in water project design and
compile relevant design stan-
dards, specifications, and
technical manuals that
advance the practice within
the industry. As a result,
water projects may be devel-
oped more quickly, with high-
er quality designs, and at
lower cost - all to advance
China’s initiative to control
water pollution and protect its
drinking water supply.
About the Author
Marie Telepneff is a Senior
Product Marketing Manager
“
Based on Bentley’s
standardized design,
the clash detection of
the system can help
us find out more than
100 clash points
quickly, with a design
error rate decreased
by 90 percent.The
design period was
reduced to two
months from three
months, increasing
the design efficiency.
Yin Xiaowei
Chief Engineer, Qingzhen
Vocational Education West
Urban District Sewage
Treatment Plant
with Bentley Systems, respon-
sible for building/structural,
plant/electrical, and
water/wastewater demand
generation campaigns and
program delivery within the
design modeling advancement
unit. She previously worked in
marketing and communica-
tions with ABB and Aspen
Technology where she gained
a background in plant design
and engineering. Telepneff
holds a master’s degree in
marketing management from
Heriot Watt University and
UC Berkeley.
Marie Telepneff
EXPRESS WATER
 CASE STUDY
Sonneberg Sewage Treatment Plant in
GermanyEnjoys Greater Planning
Reliabilityfor its Belt Press
Besides the four central STPs, Sonneberg Waterworks also operate eight small biological
plants, and thereby cover an area of around 150 square miles.
By GKD - Gebr. Kufferath AG
The Belt Press is Fed Directly from the Thickener, so Around 160 Cubic
Meters of Sludge is Dewatered Per Day.
S O N N E B E R G
WATERWORKS IN South
Thuringia, located just a few
miles from the Bavarian bor-
der, operate four sewage treat-
ment plants for around 50,000
residents. The Sonneberg-
Heubisch sewage treatment
plant has been using a Type
1003 filter belt with integrated
wear indicator from GKD -
Gebr. Kufferath AG (GKD) to
dewater sewage sludge since
January 2016. Beside efficient
dewatering and a reliable PAD
seam, the key factor that
spoke in favor of the belt was
its increased planning reliabil-
ity for belt changing intervals.
Besides the four central
44 February, 2018
sewage plants - Sonneberg-
Heubisch, Steinach, Schalkau,
and Lauscha - Sonneberg
Waterworks also operate
eight small biological plants
and thereby cover an area of
around 150 square miles. The
operations are managed eco-
nomically under the umbrella
of the Sonneberg Water
Supply & Wastewater
Treatment Association
(WAZ). Three of the four
plants are largely identical in
terms of design and process-
ing. This rather unusual con-
stellation is due to the new
rules of EU Directive 91/271
governing water supply and
wastewater disposal which
were introduced following
Germany's reunification.
According to this regulation,
municipal districts with up to
10,000 residents had to be
connected to a sewage treat-
ment plant by 2006.
While the Directive meant
that Steinach, Schalkau and
Lauscha municipalities each
required a sewage treatment
plant for the first time,
Sonneberg already had a
sewage treatment plant with a
collector and multiple rain
overflow basins that was com-
pleted in 1988. This was actu-
ally a condition of the loan
issued by the Federal
Republic to the former 2 East
Germany, which was negotiat-
ed by the then Bavarian Prime
Minister Franz Josef Strauß
in 1983 to halt the introduction
of wastewater from the for-
Besides Efficient Dewatering, the Key Factor of the GKD-Belt Type 1003 with Integrated Wear Indicator is a
Reliable PAD Seam.
mer East into Bavaria.
However, the minimum dis-
charge values of the sewage
treatment plant in Sonneberg
no longer complied with the
Municipal Wastewater
Treatment Directive in force
since 1997 in terms of nitrogen
and phosphorus, so a new
facility had to be constructed.
As three sewage plants were
being constructed simultane-
ously, it was possible to use a
similar design and equipment
for all three. Due to the diffi-
culties of the location,
Lauscha was developed sepa-
rately and only integrated into
the WAZ Association in 2009.
The plant in Sonneberg was
constructed first and has been
in operation since 2004, while
the three others followed by
2006.
The Sonneberg sewage
treatment plant was designed
to deliver a disposal rate of
48.375 PE and handle a maxi-
mum wastewater volume of
393 l/s. The average is 220 l/s.
Around 20% of the waste-
water comes from agricultur-
al operations and around 20%
from commercial discharge.
Beside companies from the
field of plant engineering, the
plastic, glass, and metal sec-
tors, as well as the supply
industry, the industrial land-
scape also includes a brewery.
Sonneberg also employs a
combined sewer system, so
the usual retained volume
needed to be doubled when
designing the new plant. This
was achieved by remodeling
the old mechanical prelimi-
nary purification area into a
rain overflow basin. One spe-
cial regional characteristic
EXPRESS WATER
 CASE STUDY
Working with Sludges that are Difficult to Dewater, Belt Speed is Always Adjusted in Such a Way that the
Entire Width of GKD-belt is Used for Dewatering Process.
that impacts the treatment
process is the fact that the
water coming from the slate
mountains is very soft in its
untreated state (4-5 degrees
German hardness (dH)) and
has a low pH value.
The Sonneberg sewage
treatment plant is also
responsible for the sewage
In Pressing Area, Sludge Passes through Eleven Rollers Between the
Upper and Lower Belt with Belt Pressure of 8 bar.
EXPRESS WATER
sludge thickening and dewa-
tering processes of the other
central sewage treatment
plants in the WAZ
Association. This produces
around 5.5 million cubic
meters of wastewater and
20,000 cubic meters of fecal
sludge per year, as well as
around 3,500 tonnes of
serves as a reserve unit and is by the 4 sewage treatment
also used to cover peak loads. plant's feed volume - via the
The blowers are operated selector basin and back into
intermittently. The organic the aeration tank.
carbon is removed and the Some 800 cubic meters are
nitrogen nitrified during the removed from the return
ventilation phases. sludge as surplus sludge each
Denitrification is per- day and then fed to the
formed in the non-ventilated mechanical thickening area.
phases. To stabilize it, lime Here, two belt thickeners with
hydrate must be added to the continuously circulating Type
wastewater in the second 5060 GKD filter belts increase
phase of the selector basin the solids content of the sur-
due to the very soft nature of plus sludge from 0.75% TS to
the water in Sonneberg. It is around 5% TS through the
metered from a 70 cubic addition of flocculant. If nec-
meter lime silo that is heated essary, it can then be tem-
in winter. For chemical clean- porarily stored in two sludge
ing, a precipitating agent is silos, as sludge dewatering at
added to the wastewater the Sonneberg sewage treat-
stream both upstream and ment plant is performed on
downstream of the aeration the basis of the disposal vol-
tank to remove the phosphate ume and cycle of the external
in the wastewater. The waste- disposal company. A 400
sewage 3 sludge with a dry water treated in this way cubic meter sheltered storage
matter content of around 23%, flows from the aeration tank area was therefore construct-
which is processed externally. via a distributor structure ed for the dewatered sludge,
into two final clarification where it can be temporarily
Identical Plant Design basins which are equipped stored until collection.
At the four plants, mechan- with a return sludge pumping
ical cleaning is initially per- unit. This then pumps 80% of Strong Woven Seam
formed using a rake system the return sludge - measured The belt press is generally
with screw compactor for
dewatering the raked materi-
al. In the ventilated sand trap
with sand washer, any sand in
the material is released,
washed and dewatered, allow-
ing it to be used as backfill
material in ditch and trench
digging operations. At the
same time, light substances
such as oils and greases are
removed here. For biological
cleaning, a selector basin
divided into two cascades is
positioned upstream of the
aeration tanks. Its task is to
minimize the growth of fila-
mentous bacteria and associ-
ated formation of bulking
sludge stimulated by the large
volume of fecal sludge. In two
aeration tanks, designed as
circulation basins measuring
95 meters in length and boast-
ing an effective volume of
13,540 cubic meters, the nitro-
gen contained in the waste-
water is removed and the
sludge aerobically stabilized.
A blower station with five
rotary piston blowers guaran-
tees pressure ventilation of
the basin. Two blowers supply The Wear Indicator Integrated into the GKD-Belt Type 1003 Allows
each basin, while the fifth Distinct Conclusions Regarding the Service Life to be Drawn.
February, 2018 45
 CASE STUDY

The Wastewater Flows from Aeration Tank into Two Final Clarification Basins which are Equipped with a Return
Sludge Pumping Unit.

Mechanical Cleaning is Initially Performed Using a Rake System with
Screw Compactor for Dewatering Raked Material.
fed directly from the thicken-
er, so around 160 cubic meters
of sludge is dewatered per day,
whereby the belt speed is
based on the grade of the
sludge. With easily drainable
sludges, approximately twelve
cubic meters per hour are fed
and then remain in the system
for around half an hour. When
working with sludges that are
difficult to dewater, the vol-
ume of sludge fed is reduced.
The belt speed is always
adjusted in such a way that
the entire width of the belt is
used for the dewatering
process. Beside fluctuating
wastewater temperatures, a
slightly higher proportion of
biological sludge can, for
example, also influence the
quality of the sludge. After the
thickened sludge has been
deposited in the belt press
infeed area, two scrapers dis-
tribute it evenly across the
Type 1003 GKD filter belt,
which then transports it to the
pressing area. Here, the
sludge passes through eleven
rollers between the upper and
lower belt with belt pressure
of 8 bar. The belts are subject-
ed to high loads as a result of
the forces applied. The woven
seams, in particular, were,
therefore, a much-feared
weak point in Sonneberg for a
long time. This was because
the belts previously used at
the Sonneberg sewage treat-
ment plant regularly suffered
5 from damaged seams due to
the loads they must handle. In
fact, these belts were repeat-
edly torn apart in an uncon-
trolled way, causing costly
downtimes.
Plant manager Bernd
Hubner remembers: "The
most important part of the
belt is the seam. With the old
belts, the sudden failure of
these seams led to a great deal
of work and costs caused by
the sludge that was still in the
press. Yet despite the higher
personnel costs associated
with this work, the significant-
ly longer downtime in com-
parison with a scheduled belt
change was what actually had
the greatest negative impact."
Toralf Thiemann, head of
the sewage plant, adds: "For
us, it is important to detect
wear early on so that we can
see when the belt has reached
the end of its useful life. We
can then plan its replacement
in good time. If this timing
passes by unnoticed, the belt
is likely to break unexpected-
ly." While searching for a solu-
tion, he came across GKD and
its Type 1003 filter belt with
patented PAD seam. "Since
we have been using this belt
type, we have not had a single
belt fail and therefore not
experienced any further
downtimes," he comments,
full of praise. "With an aver-
age running time of 4,000
hours per year, this is clearly
significantly better perform-
ance than we were able to
achieve with the previous
belts." The dewatering per-
formance and particle reten-
tion of the GKD belts also
meet the high expectations of
the Sonneberg sewage treat-
ment plant.
Yet, for Bernd Hubner, the
key benefit of this belt type is
the flat, reliable PAD seam.
"This continues to hold out,
even when the belt is worn,"
he comments. "Since making
the switch to the GKD belt,
our operational reliability has
seen a significant and wel-
come increase." It should,
therefore, come as no surprise
that staff in Sonneberg were
also keen to test the new Type

In Two Aeration Tanks, Designed as Circulation Basins Measuring 95

Meters in Length and Boasting an Effective Volume of 13,540 Cubic
In Sand Trap, Any Sand in the Material is Released, Washed and Dewatered, Allowing it to be Used as Backfill Meters, Nitrogen Contained in Wastewater is Removed and Sludge
Material in Ditch and Trench Digging Operations. Aerobically Stabilized.

46 February, 2018 EXPRESS WATER

 CASE STUDY
Lime Hydrate Must be Added to Wastewater Due to the Very Soft Nature
of Water in Sonneberg.
1003 belt with integrated wear
indicator.
Early Warning System In-
cluded
The yellow inner core of
the 15.25 meter long and 2.50
meter wide GKD polyester
belt displays the degree of
mechanical wear - similarly to
the wear indicators on car
Two Belt Thickeners with Continuously Circulating Type 5060 GKD Filter
Belts Increase the Solids Content of Surplus Sludge from 0.75% TS to
Around 5% TS Through Addition of Flocculant.
EXPRESS WATER
tires. This allows damage
caused by defective plant 6
components or process-relat-
ed wear to be detected early
on. The Sonneberg sewage
treatment plant has been
using the new belt type since
January 2016 and thereby
supplementing its existing
process control.
"The belt press is connect-
ed to our control system,
where all operating data is
captured," explains Toralf
Thiemann. Runtime, mainte-
nance frequency, and
patrols/inspections are all
registered on the system. On
this basis, the operating per-
sonnel are informed via SMS
of an impending failure based
on the threshold values
defined. The head of the
sewage plant hopes that this
early warning system offered
by the GKD belt with wear
indicator will provide addi-
tional information, from
which characteristic values
can be derived for the control Plant Manager Bernd Hubner is Completely Satisfied with the
system. A key question for Collaboration with GKD.
him during the test was there-
fore to what extent conclu- ship between belt and clamp tant planning reliability in our
sions regarding seam wear wear along the seam. His sum- day-to-day operations." The
can be drawn from belt wear. mary is therefore clear: collaboration with GKD is also
If this belt allowed conclu- "From now 7 on, we only want good: "We generally do not
sions to be drawn regarding belts with wear indicator!" hear from one another very
the remaining useful life of the Plant manager Bernd Hubner often, which is a good sign. In
seam for the first time based agrees with him: "This belt other words: we are complete-
on visual pointers of how wear type provides us with impor- ly satisfied."
is progressing, this would also
represent another important
reliability gain for him.
Volker Meuser, Senior
Sales & Application Manager
at GKD, is also keen to point
out a further benefit of the
wear indicator. This revolves
around the fact that increas-
ing wear on filter belts gener-
ally also has an effect on their
dewatering performance.
"When values start to deterio-
rate, many plants engage in
complex and costly research
to determine the cause.
However, nobody ever seems
to consider the belt here, " he
explains, based on his own
experience. The wear indica-
tor integrated into the GKD
belt allows distinct conclu-
sions regarding the dewater-
ing performance to be drawn.
The first visible signs of
wear in Sonneberg have not
yet resulted in any impair-
ment of the dewatering
process, although Toralf
Thiemann and his team are
obviously keeping a close eye
on this. After 22 months, he is
happy to confirm that the
Type 1003 GKD belt with inte-
grated wear indicator passed
the test with flying colors. He Toralf Thiemann, Head of Sewage Plant Gets Additional Information for
also understands the relation- the Control System from GKD-Belt 1003 with Integrated Wear Indicator.
February, 2018 47
 MARKET

Day Zero Looms for Cape Town as South

African City Prepares to Turn Off Taps
- Magnitude of drought Cape Town’s is a once every 300 years event
- By 2030 the world will face a 40% global water deficit under the business-as-usual climate scenario
- By 2050, over 40% of the world population will be subject to severe water stress
By World Water Council

Benedito Braga
WATER, OUR WORLD’S
most precious, and yet under-
protected, resource, will soon
be a scarcity for the citizens of
Cape Town, South Africa as
“Day Zero” looms. Today,
their 4 million residents must
experts from more than 50
countries to rally for action on
water-related issues.
Together, the global authority
on water uses their expert
voices to mobilize govern-
ments, institutions, associa-
tions and high-level decision-
makers on critical water
issues.
Water vulnerability, exac-
erbated by climate variability
and change, needs climate-
smart solutions implemented
worldwide. S?o Paulo, Brazil,
endured a two-year drought,
their worst in the last 80
years. The drought empha-
sized the unpredictability of
water sources, and the chal-
lenges surrounding the
increasing need for water
security.
The realities faced by S?o
Paulo and Cape Town, rein-
tion uses more efficient meth-
ods. Managing demand in this
way will enable us to use our
water resources more effi-
ciently and effectively,”
explains World Water Council
President, Benedito Braga.
Climate variability and
change continues to have dev-
astating effects globally.
Droughts and flooding have
increased worldwide and are
projected to worsen by 2030
when 40% of the world’s popu-
lation will live in river basins
under severe water stress,
while 20% will be at risk of
floods. The World Water
Council understands that
securing global water supplies
means demanding more fund-
ing for water infrastructure,
reinforcing governance and
management practices and
developing knowledge and
the Brazilian capital, Brasilia,
between the 18th and 23rd of
March 2018, and will be guid-
ed by the over-arching theme
of “Sharing Water,” in light of
water’s role in uniting commu-
nities and tearing down barri-
ers. The Forum brings togeth-
er heads of state, ministers,
high-level decision makers,
water experts and profession-
als to raise awareness about
water-related issues, local
authorities and academics.
Founded by the World Water
Council, the World Water
Forum places water firmly at
the heart of global develop-
ment and puts the spotlight on
climate change and a call to
action to ensure water’s and
our future.
The World Water Council
(WWC) is an international
multi-stakeholder platform
organization, the founder, and
co-organizer of the World
Water Forum. The World
Water Council’s mission is to
mobilize action on critical
water issues at all levels,
including the highest decision-
making level, by engaging peo-
ple in debate and challenging
conventional thinking. The
Council focuses on the politi-
cal dimensions of water secu-
rity, adaptation, and sustain-
ability, and works to position
water at the top of the global
political agenda.
Headquartered in Marseille,
France, and created in 1996,
the World Water Council
brings together over 300
member organizations from
more than 50 different coun-
tries.

reduce their water usage to
just 50 liters per day, 7 times
less than the average US citi-
zen. Important variability in
rainfall patterns has dried up
6 crucial dams that supply
Cape Town with water.
Without rain, by this April,
“Day Zero” will become a real-
ity and all taps will be turned
off. Homes and businesses will
need to adapt to rationing
water provisions and to a life
without running water.
The World Water Council’s
core mission is to promote at
all political levels the availabil-
ity of safe water for all and
increase water security at
large. The World Water
Council is a platform for water
force the reality that water is
at the heart of mitigating and
adapting to climate change
impacts. “Drought is directly
linked to climate variability
and water security. There are
ways to address the problem:
first, to increase availability
and resilience through secur-
ing our water resources. This
involves the construction of
dams, reservoirs and repair-
ing water mains. In addition,
there must be a rational use of
water, which means all sectors
must share sources fairly and
encourage citizens to be effi-
cient with water use in their
own homes. The industry
needs to recycle and reuse
water and ensure that irriga-
“
capacity. As is evident sur-
rounding the current
drought crisis in Cape Town,
citizens around the world are Drought is directly linked to climate
extremely concerned about
water security. In fact, 63% of
variability and water security.There are ways
cities foresee a risk to their to address the problem: first, to increase
water supply from climate availability and resilience through securing
change.
The overwhelming need
our water resources.This involves the
for action on global water construction of dams, reservoirs and
issues means the time to repairing water mains. In addition, there
implement cohesive solutions
is now. The upcoming World
must be a rational use of water, which means
Water Forum will be the glob- all sectors must share sources fairly and
al gathering point for water encourage citizens to be efficient with water
issues. Here, the conversation
will ignite and fuel the journey
use in their own homes.
towards ensuring the future of Benedito Braga
water security. President - World Water Council (WWC)
The Forum will be held in

48 February, 2018 EXPRESS WATER

 MARKET

Water Utilities Capitalize on Hydraulic

Modeling to Minimize TOTEX, Reduce Risk,
and Mitigate Water Loss
Water utilities are faced with meeting a myriad of challenges ranging from disaster
preparedness to environmental conservation to driving down total expenditures (TOTEX), at
the same time as they are expected to improve service. Three examples from the 2017 ‘Be
Inspired Awards’ nominations demonstrate the key role hydraulic modeling applications play
in achieving water utility goals.
By Bentley Systems

Units (LGU). The NDRRMC calamity is a race against

Prolagos Treatment Plant
MANILA WATER IS a water
utility concessionaire in the
Philippines that provides
water and wastewater servic-
es for 24 cities and municipal-
ities and operates more than
100 facilities serving 6 million
customers both in water dis-
tribution and wastewater
treatment. The Philippines
sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire
where earthquakes and vol-
canic eruptions frequently
occur. Metro Manila falls vic-
tim to this circumstance,
being geographically transect-
ed by several fault systems,
including the dangerous West
Valley Fault System. The
Philippines is also ravaged by
an average of 20 typhoons per
year.
To address the great level
of risk, Manila Water conduct-
ed a Resiliency and Business
Interruption (RBI) study to
determine the systems and
facilities that are most vulner-
able in the event of such natu-
ral disasters. The study indi-
cated that significant dam-
ages amounting to approxi-
mately USD 520 million in
water infrastructure are
inevitable. Consequently, the
Natural Calamity Risk
Resiliency and Mitigation
Master Plan was developed in
collaboration with National
Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council (NDR-
RMC) and Local Government
and LGU provided the emer- time. Bentley WaterGEMS
gency response plan as well as helped Manila Water mini-
locations of evacuation sites mize the amount of its invest-
that will be used in the event ment while maximizing the
of a catastrophe. resiliency and contingency of
Manila Water must ensure its facilities, both being highly
that these identified sites will beneficial to the customers it
have a secure and reliable serves.”
supply of water in case of Prolagos, a concessionaire
emergency. WaterGEMS was of AEGEA, provides water
used to identify and prioritize and sanitation services to five
critical assets requiring municipalities in the Região
resiliency and contingency dos Lagos, in Rio de Janeiro,
measures by simulating the Brazil serving 400,000 inhabi-
effect of losing one or several tants in low season and more
components of the water sys- than 2 million in the high sea-
tem and seeing how intercon- son. Currently, 93 percent of
nected systems would react. the residents have access to
With the application of the the water supply and 76 per-
resiliency and contingency
measures, a reassessment
was made of the RBI study
that estimated property dam-
age and business interruption
would be reduced by USD 380
million in the event of a
calamity. Also, looking at a
more immediate benefit of the
master plan, Manila Water
saved a total of USD 30 mil-
lion on insurance through the
concession period.
Diogenes Adelbert Voltaire
B. Evangelista, water system
analysis and planning engi-
neer, said, “Mitigation of the Thematic Map of Critical Assets
adverse effects of a natural Near the West Valley Fault System

EXPRESS WATER February, 2018 49

 MARKET
Network Model in WaterGEMS Overlaying the Risk Areas of West Valley
Fault System
cent to sewage collection and
treatment. Prolagos strives to
improve the sewer collection
and treatment services with
the highest possible ROI while
seeking complete decontami-
nation of the Araruama
lagoon to bring back social,
environmental, economic, and
tourism benefits to the region.
The Araruama lagoon is the
largest mass of hypersaline
water in a permanent state in
the world. In 1998, the lagoon
was completely polluted lead-
ing to the death of aquatic
plants and animals. This
large-scale pollution raised
the unemployment rate in the
fishing industry, severely
reduced trade and tourism
activities, and increased risks
to human health.
For the Sewerage Master
Plan 2041, Prolagos integrated
data from GIS, CAD, SCADA,
and drones in a planimetric
survey using SewerGEMS.
They developed the models to
analyze “what-if” scenarios,
and to determine the best
long-term hydraulic combina-
tion of both sewerage and
Prolagos Operational Control Center
50 February, 2018
drainage systems for environ-
mental, social, and economic
gains. SewerGEMS “scenarios
comparisons” were instru-
mental in engaging AEGEA’s
management team in the face-
to-face meetings.
An initial comparison of
the master plan preliminary
results with previous official
studies showed a reduction of
approximately 60 percent on
the necessary investment to
achieve the same rate of
sewage coverage – 90 percent.
Moreover, the plan enables
significant annual cost sav-
ings due to the decrease of the
systems’ energy consumption.
These savings would result
from a decrease of 35 percent
of the volume treated in the
wastewater plants. The saving
resulted from plan’s separa-
tion of sewage and drainage
flows, which reduced the num-
ber of sewage lifting stations
and improved the efficiency of
the pumping systems, with
some individual pump sta-
tions demonstrating gains of
over 20 percent. Moreover,
the expansion of the separat-
ed sewage collecting system
helps mitigate environmental
impacts in the lagoon by stop-
ping untreated discharges
when sanitary sewers over-
flow from stormwater inflow
or groundwater is infiltrated
through the concrete drainage
pipes. The model estimates a
reduction of 6 million cubic
meters of untreated dis-
charges. Through integration
with the operational control
center, it was possible to easi-
ly simulate the effects of alter-
native investments scenarios
in the networks operational
efficiency.
Wagner Oliveira de
Carvalho, senior project man-
ager, Prolagos, said, “Bearing
in mind the shortage of avail-
able funds for infrastructure
investments in Brazil,
SewerGEMS can really make
a difference in the optimiza-
tion of investments bridging
the existing gap in sewage
infrastructure, thus promot-
ing social inclusion and
increasing people’s living
standards.”
Varkom is a utility provid-
ing water services to seven
townships and 20 municipali-
ties in Varazdin County in
Croatia. Varkom sought to
implement a major water loss
program that would enable
cost savings and increase
service quality for the county.
The project included the
development of an accurate
network map in a GIS and a
Prolagos Model Supporting Sewerage Master Plan
Prolagos - Graph of the Evolution of Biochemical Oxygen Deman in
Araruama Lagoon
comprehensive model facili-
tated by field measurements.
The model was the basis for
applications that included
water demand analysis, pres-
sure management, and water
loss analysis based on the
International Water
Association (IWA) Water Loss
Specialty Group (WLSG)
methodology, SCADA devel-
opment, District Metered
Area (DMA) zoning, cost-ben-
efit analysis, and feasibility
studies. Hidroing Ltd. devel-
oped the model and imple-
mented these applications for
Varkom.
The project enabled
Varkom to make informed
decisions for investing in
water loss reduction with a
final goal of reducing water
loss by 2 million cubic meters
per year.
As Varkom pumps water
from underground wells,
water usage, and energy
usage will be reduced along
with the reduction of CO2 due
to decreased pumping. Using
WaterCAD, Hidroing fulfilled
tight schedule demands and
finished the project in 12
months, with an estimated
600 resource-days in savings
attributed to the use of
WaterCAD. A significant chal-
lenge was scheduling the field
work for GIS mapping and
field measurements to meet
project timelines. WaterCAD’s
capability to add sub-models
saved Hidroing three months
of time since it was possible to
work on many tasks simulta-
neously.
“Bentley WaterCAD capa-
bilities in combining different
input database formats
enabled us to make a precise
hydraulic model and obtain
accurate results, thus
enabling Varkom to make
valid decisions for its water
supply network development,”
said, Igor Dundovic, project
manager, Hidroing Ltd.
EXPRESS WATER
RNI NO. MAHENG-14351