Tackling Water Utility Challenge For Better Cities
With the ever-worsening water situation in India, the focus on the management of the resource is highly critical. Experts have attributed lack of government planning, corporate privatization, industrial and human waste and government corruption for the major crisis. Another eye-opening statistic from the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation predicts that per capita water availability will reduce by 36 per cent by 2025 and by about 60 per cent in 2050 from 2001 levels.
Given the situation of water scarcity in India, the focus on water management is said to significantly increase. Addressing the water utility challenge in India, Amit Vaidya, Strategic Accounts Director, Sensus – A Xylem Brand, at any industry presentation spoke on the importance of non-revenue water management, specifically in the context of smart cities.
What is non-revenue water?
Non-revenue water (NRW) is the water that post-production is unable to reach the customer and is ‘’lost’’ along the way and thus does not generate revenue. There are various types of losses happening in the category of non-revenue water that needs to be managed.
Vaidya informed that there are two types of losses: real losses and apparent losses. Real losses contain the leaks within networks (e.g., pipes) and apparent losses consist of loss from defective meters (e.g., meter inaccuracies). Speaking on the contributions that his company has made, Vaidya informed that they locate leaks, weak and damaged pipes, and prevent losses. The company also provides many smart tools that others can use the tools to know the actual ground situation and then take a call whether to invest and when to invest. “We have the opportunity of a lifetime – let's solve water,” he added.
The above industry expert was presenting at the BW Businessworld organized 8th Smart Cities Conclave.
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