Author : Rumi Aijaz

Expert Speak Urban Futures
Published on Nov 13, 2021
Measures need to be enforced to curtail administrative and civic misuse with regard to the ongoing water supply issue.
Water supply challenges in planned areas of cities

In some Indian cities, people living in planned residential colonies are not receiving sufficient quantities of water for daily consumption from the municipal agencies. Although water supply infrastructure exists in the colonies and water is released in the piped network, most households still face the problem of water shortage. A situation analysis reveals that the problem exists not as much due to less availability of water with the supply agency, but is more a result of administrative mismanagement and civic misuse. Thus, instead of improvement, the situation has deteriorated over the years. About 15-20 years ago, demand for water was less due to less number of residents, and supply as well as pressure at which water was received were considered adequate. At that time, water was received every day, supply timings were fixed, and because of high pressure, electric pumps were not required to lift water for storage in rooftop/overhead tanks. However, the situation has changed with the passage of time. As the population grew, the demand for water also increased. To understand this change, here are some interesting facts on the practices followed in water supply and consumption.

Generally, water is pumped in the piped network by the municipal agency for distribution to consumers three times a day—morning, afternoon, and evening; however, wide variations in this pattern are noted if the situation is reviewed over a one-year period. Sometimes the water is received thrice a day, sometimes it is not. The consumers have not been kept informed and updated about the water supply timings, and therefore, they are unsure whether they will receive water at the designated time. Moreover, the frequency of water supply differs during the year. It increases during the monsoon season, and is considerably less at other times of the year. The summer months are worst in this regard as consumption is extremely high, and supply is miserable.

As the population grew, the demand for water also increased. To understand this change, here are some interesting facts on the practices followed in water supply and consumption.

Similarly, there is little clarity over the duration of water supply. Consumers do not know for how long they will receive water at the designated time. Sometimes municipal supply is received for about half an hour, sometimes for just five or ten minutes. Within this short period, it becomes difficult for them to store and fulfil their needs. During the monsoon season, the supply is erratic and is for longer periods. Water supply is also affected by low pressure. Generally, water is not received in household taps that are at a height of two feet and above. When received, the quantities flowing from the tap are minimal. The supply received at low pressure does not allow consumers to store water in utensils or overhead tanks.

The quality of water received is a major concern, as this has implications for the health of consumers. Many a times, the water has a foul smell. The water in the piped municipal network gets contaminated due to leakages in the pipelines which allow entry of sewage and mud. The taste of the water is also affected by excessive use of chlorine during the treatment process carried out by the supply agency. In view of the inferior water quality and health concerns, households use water purifying apparatus and buy bottled water to meet their drinking water needs.

Practices adopted by households

Taking in consideration the prevailing water-related concerns pertaining to supply timings, frequency, duration, pressure, and quality, several households have taken steps to deal with the problems. Some practices in this regard are mentioned below.

The water in the piped municipal network gets contaminated due to leakages in the pipelines which allow entry of sewage and mud.

By the time municipal water reaches households through the pipelines, its quantity and pressure reduces significantly. This happens because many consumers have connected powerful electric motor pumps directly to the municipal pipeline, at the point where the line enters their premises, to pull water by force. In this manner, larger quantities of water are obtained as compared to what would have been received through normal supply. The forceful extraction/drawing of water from the supply lines causes contamination of water, as in this process, impurities in the pipeline network are also pulled in. Moreover, the pipelines are old, rusted, and cracked. Therefore, impurities, such as mud and sewage, enter the pipelines through the cracks. The presence of mud in piped municipal water is maximum during the monsoon season, since water logging occurs at many places and mud enters through cracks in pipelines.

Many households are not in favour of using electric motor pumps to pull water from the municipal pipeline as for them, the practice is unethical, but they do this because they don’t receive water through the normal supply process. The treated municipal water so obtained is utilised for various potable and non-potable purposes, including drinking, cooking, bathing, car and driveway washing, and gardening. Several households also use this water to grow vegetables on adjoining vacant plots, which leads to higher consumption. Furthermore, bore wells have been dug by some households to draw groundwater and thus meet their water needs. The practices of forcefully drawing water using electric pumps, growing vegetables on vacant plots, and digging bore wells are not allowed under the law, as these severely disrupt neighbourhood supply. However, there is hardly any action by the administration against misuse of water.

Steps to improve water service

Nevertheless, some steps to ensure efficiency in water service delivery are observed. The municipal website offers consumers the opportunity to register and track complaints. Generally, simple complaints are attended at the earliest. For example, water tankers are sent to households experiencing water shortages. The complicated ones, pertaining to water quality, pressure, or pipeline leakages, are generally overlooked.

The forceful extraction/drawing of water from the supply lines causes contamination of water, as in this process, impurities in the pipeline network are also pulled in.

Next, the municipal agency experiments with supply timings. Sometimes, water is pumped in the piped network during odd hours, such as midnight. As people are sleeping, electric pumps remain off. The water received at this time is better in terms of quantity and pressure, and this practice of supplying water helps in its equitable distribution, i.e., municipal water reaches all households and fills (partially or fully) surface and/or underground storage tanks. Another institutional practice is switching off electricity supply in the area for about half an hour during the time of water supply. This measure is aimed at preventing consumers from switching on their electric motor pumps at the time of release of municipal water in the piped network. Thus, when the power supply is switched off by the electricity department, municipal water reaches every household.

Conclusion

Based on a review of prevailing water supply and consumption practices, as described above, it may be concluded that the current approach of water agency for supplying water to citizens is ad hoc and unsustainable. It does not ensure supply of regular, adequate and safe water to the households. It is also noted that the issue of equal access to water is aggravated by its misuse by some households. The present conditions call for improvement in the functioning of the water agency, as well as implementation of appropriate measures to prevent misuse of water by consumers. Some suggestions in this regard are provided below. Per capita water supply norms should be followed by the municipal agency. Feedback should be collected from each household about quantity and quality of water received.

Water supply timings should be fixed, and water should be released in the network by the municipal agency according to the finalised time table. The consumers should be kept informed about the timings.

The complicated ones, pertaining to water quality, pressure, or pipeline leakages, are generally overlooked.

Appropriate technology should be used by the municipal agency to monitor water pressure in pipelines, leakages in the network, as well as water quality in storage tanks and pipelines. The municipal agency must ensure supply of water for longer durations during a day, and work towards 24X7 supply of water. In this regard, it should take steps to establish rainwater harvesting systems at potential public places, and support interested consumers in installation of such systems. Further, all the waste/drain water should be treated and recycled for meeting non-potable consumer needs.

Awareness should be generated amongst consumers about the negative effects of water misuse. Regular visits should be undertaken by the municipal agency to check for violations by consumers, such as use of electric motor pumps, construction of bore wells, etc. It should be ensured that water meters are installed in every household, and water charges are levied on the basis of quantity of water consumed, and not on size of property.

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Author

Rumi Aijaz

Rumi Aijaz

Rumi Aijaz is Senior Fellow at ORF where he is responsible for the conduct of the Urban Policy Research Initiative. He conceived and designed the ...

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