EDITOR’S NOTE

A Journey of a Thousand Miles...

A
journey of a thousand miles begins
with a single step. And the first crucial
step we are taking now with the incep-
tion of EXPRESS WATER magazine
will have to go beyond the thousand-
mile mark. That’s how we will be able to follow our vi-
sion - of being a community engagement platform
that brings the world’s water communities together.
The water community has various stakeholders -
governments, industrial users, technology vendors,
consultants, institutes, water experts, policy-makers,
contractors, EPCs, etc. Moreover, as an industry, we
are still not completely organized. Different commu-
nication mediums are present in the industry, only
providing a one-sided flow of information mostly on
the technology and its implementation. Consequently,
we always felt the lack of a strong binding force which
could bring all the stakeholders together on one plat-
form - to share ideas, opinions, and most significantly
the invaluable experiences.
EXPRESS WATER magazine aims to fill this very
gap. Winning the trust of all the stakeholders will be a
challenge to us. Therefore, we aim to be neutral, unaf-
fected by the market pressure, to provide unbiased
content and space for the water sector to converse
and converge. We derive this strength from the core
philosophy of the Indian Express group.
As per a recent market-report by Frost, this year
the key predictions for municipal water and waste-
water segment include Sustainability, Customer En-
gagement, Smart Water Management, etc., while
growing demand for Sustainable Solutions, Water
Reuse and Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) will drive
the market in the industrial segment. This means
that innovation will obviously be the key, and con-
cepts like Internet-of-Things (IoT) for a green and
sustainable infrastructure, and more cost-effective
decentralized treatment systems would find favor.
The water sector is truly at a crucial juncture.
EXPRESS WATER would be at the forefront to
consistently highlight such trends. To become the
most trusted source of information and help you
make informed buying decisions, we will come up
with the right blend of project news, products, market
trends, and analysis. We will address a wide range of
issues in diverse disciplines of water & wastewater
from across the globe and most importantly India.
For inaugural issue what could have been better
for us than going to the leaders of the water sector
and asking for their collective wisdom on water. Our
“If there is magic on esteemed authors and their organizations represent
this planet,it is a complete water ecosystem in this issue’s cover
story.
contained in water.”- Let us know your thoughts on our inaugural issue.
Loren Eiseley Send us your suggestions and contributions. After all,
as a community, we can only prosper as long as we
stay connected and keep sharing the magic of water.
MAYUR SHARMA
Editor
mayur.sharma@expressindia.com
@TheExpressWater

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EXPRESS WATER December, 2017 3

 CONTENTS
Vol 01 No 1 December 2017 Pages 72 WATER DIALOGUE
Chairman of the Board

Viveck Goenka
06 INTERVIEW - SADHGURU
Founder, Isha Foundation
Sr Vice President - BPD

Neil Viegas 10 INTERVIEW - DR. SANJAY

MUKHERJEE
Editor Additional Municipal
Commissioner (Projects),
Mayur Sharma* Municipal Corporation of
Greater Mumbai
DESIGN

National Design Editor

MARKET
Bivash Barua
Assistant Art Director

Pravin Temble
62 POST EVENT - IFAT INDIA
2017

Chief Designer

Prasad Tate
64 POST EVENT - INDIA WATER
WEEK 2017

Senior Designer

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66 MARKET REPORTS

Graphic Designer

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CASE STUDY
SCHEDULING & COORDINATION
67
Ashish Anchan
Photo Editor

Sandeep Patil
WATER LEADERS ACCURATE DOSING PUMPS
MARKETING
Leaders from water community share their thoughts ENABLE WELSH WATER TO
Kailash Shirodkar
on the challenges water sector is facing and chalk out MAINTAIN STRICT
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CIRCULATION their roadmap for all the stakeholders. The investment is expected to
achieve a quick return thanks
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PRODUCTION
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tenance associated with strip-
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General Manager
diaphragm pumps.

B R Tipnis PROJECT TRACKER

Manager
68
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4 December, 2017 EXPRESS WATER

INTERVIEW

WATER DIALOGUE
With
Sadhguru
Founder, Isha Foundation
Ranked amongst the fifty most
influential people in India, Sadhguru
is a yogi, mystic, visionary and
bestselling author. He has been
conferred the ‘Padma Vibhushan’ by
the Government of India in 2017. He
recently completed a nationwide
Rally for Rivers campaign in which he
drove himself covering 9300
kilometers, 16 states and over 142
events, at the end of which he
submitted first copy of a draft policy
with recommendations on revival of
rivers in India to Prime Minister
Narendra Modi. Sadhguru, in an
interaction with Mayur Sharma
shares his thoughts on water and his
initiative for rivers...

6 December, 2017 EXPRESS WATER

 INTERVIEW
WHAT IS WATER for you?
How essential it is to un-
derstand the significance
of water in today's world?
Sadhguru: Water is not a
commodity, it is life-making
material. Whenever we look
for life, we look for a drop of
water first! 70% of our body
itself is water. In this cul-
ture, we did not see rivers
as just water bodies. We see
them as life-giving gods and
goddesses. To a thinking
mind, which is confined to
the limitations of its logic,
this may sound foolish or
very rudimentary. “A river is
a river, how is it a goddess?”
If you lock up such a person
in a room without giving
him water for three days,
and then show him a glass
of water, he will bow down
to it – not to a river, just a
glass of water!
Water is an essential ele-
ment of your survival, but
today, the kind of water situ-
ation India is facing is really
dire. The per capita volume
of water that is available in
India today is only twenty-
five percent of what was
available in 1947. Today,
there are many towns and
villages in India where they
bathe only once in three
days. India’s is a culture
where no matter what, even
if you do not eat, you have a
shower. Nowadays, people
are skipping their bath. This
is not development; this is
not wellbeing. A situation
seems to be coming where
we will have to drink water
only on alternate days. As a
nation, we are not organized
enough nor do we have the
resources to move millions
of litres of water from one
place to another and make
sure people have water to
drink. Millions of people
would just die without water.
Water is a resource that
has to be managed. We have
not really paid attention to
this in the last few decades.
There is an urgent need for
an enforceable policy which
will determine how we
should live around our water
bodies, what we should do
and what we should not do.
EXPRESS WATER
This is a responsibility
that we owe to the future
generations. As a genera-
tion of people, we have
caused the maximum dam-
age. As a generation, even if
we can’t fix everything, at
least we must drive in the
right direction towards
what must be done.
What was the impetus for
'Rally for Rivers' cam-
paign? How is it different
than the earlier campaigns
for saving rivers?
Sadhguru: Rivers have
been the lifelines of this
nation. We are a culture
that has grown out of a
riverbank. But today, our
rivers are at dangerous lev-
els of depletion. If you fly
over India, the nation looks
like brown desert. Many
rivers don’t even touch the
ocean many months of the
year. When rain comes it
floods, otherwise there’s
nothing. This is not a situa-
tion we can afford to ignore
anymore.
Various policies are
required to protect the river
as the problems faced are
diverse. However, most cam-
paigns today focus on redis-
tributing the existing water
and managing pollution
entering the river systems.
There has not been much
effort to increase the water
flow in the river. Rally for
Rivers’ focus is in this aspect
of “Source Augmentation.”
The draft policy for river
revitalization focuses on the
health and life of the river as
a living entity. It proposes
tree plantation along the
river sides as a means for
source augmentation of the
river flow.
Most campaigns also do
not address the needs of
the majority of the stake-
holders dependent on the
river systems – especially
the farmers. 60 to 80% of
the water from the river
system is used for irrigation
purposes. The policy rec-
ommendation details how if
farmers shift to tree-based
agriculture with micro-irri-
gation practices, the water
demand on the river can be
reduced by 40 to 50%. This
will decrease the pressure
on the river system and
enhance the income of the
farmer at the same time.
If we implement this
properly in the next eight to
ten years, you will see the
water situation in the
nation will improve. But if
we wait for 15, 20 years and
then attempt to reverse the
problem, it will take a much
longer time to turn around.
How would you explain the
concept of 'River Revital-
ization'? Who are the
stakeholders?
Sadhguru: My entire
effort in this is to somehow
marry science and politics.
All married people under-
stand that when you marry,
you have to make compro-
mises – otherwise it won’t
last! In any relationship,
whether it is a marriage or
the marketplace, both the
parties must benefit other-
wise it is not going to work.
So it is very important all
the stakeholders benefit in
this policy.
The first stakeholder is
the river itself. The river
flow should increase. All the
life that is sustained in the
river will naturally benefit
from that. The next is the
farmers and other commu-
nities which depend on the
river for livelihood. They
must benefit from this.
Allied industry must also
benefit for them to invest in
agricultural produce and
infrastructure. Next is the
larger community – those
of us who live in towns and
cities. Then comes the gov-
ernment and the local
administrations. They must
benefit in terms of taxes
and revenue. Only then will
this fall into place. This is
what the draft policy
involves.
The policy document
proposes tree plantation
for one kilometer on either
river side. Out of this, wher-
ever the land is govern-
ment-owned, it should
become forest, with native
and endemic vegetation –
appropriate trees, grasses
and shrubs. This need not
be limited to one kilometer
from the river. It can cover
the entire area of the gov-
ernment land.
The rest of the land is in
the farmers’ hands. It is not
fair to ask the poor farmer
to save the river or the
nation or the ecology – it’s
just ridiculous. So what we
have evolved is an econom-
ic plan with a significant
ecological impact. If a
farmer shifts from crop-
based to tree-based agri-
culture, his income can go
up anywhere between three
to eight times in five to
seven years’ time by going
for right selection of trees
with efficient supply chain
management. The farmer
can live a good life and the
nation’s soil and water
will be taken care of.
If we demonstrate that
this can be economically
successful for a farmer, the
government and adminis-
tration will not have to
enforce or implement any-
thing. It will just spread by
itself. Making it economi-
cally profitable and sustain-
able is the most important
thing. This is not ecology
versus economy – this is
economics which sustains
ecology. This is how it has
to be approached.
Otherwise it is not going to
work.
It is to ensure that the
policy is comprehensive
and takes into account all
stakeholders’ interests that
we have presented the
draft policy in the public
domain. There is a three-
month window during
which it is open to sugges-
tions and contributions
from anyone. If someone
has experience and wisdom
about some aspect that we
have not considered, we
would definitely look at it. I
invite everyone with the
necessary expertise to give
their technical and scientif-
ic inputs to strengthen the
policy for better implemen-
tation.
What do you see as the key
challenges to conserving,
restoring, and rejuvenating
rivers?
Sadhguru: There are
many complexities involved
in this. There are legislative
challenges, there are legal
challenges, there are social
challenges and there are
economic challenges. But
one of the biggest chal-
lenges is that rivers do not
respect state borders
because they flow across
the nation as they want.
The central government
can make an overarching
policy but the river flows in
the geography of the
states. Essentially, it is in
the hands of the state to
implement. This concur-
rence between the center
and state has not been hap-
pening for the last seventy
“
It would be ideal if
we evaluate the
economic gains from
(on-going river)
interlinking projects
and weigh them
against the loss of
natural resource
capital, before
embarking on
new projects.
years.
When I was in
Puducherry, the honorable
Chief Minister, Sri
Narayanasamy, lamented
“Sadhguru, when I was in
Rajiv Gandhi’s government,
we had a very similar plan
but we could not get con-
currence from other states.
They were so disparate that
it did not happen.” I replied,
“Sir, if you had done this
twenty-five years ago, we
could have done this with
ten percent of the effort
that we are putting in right
now. But at least now you
are here and it’s fantastic.”
December, 2017 7
 INTERVIEW
“
It is important that the
citizens of India give a
resounding “Yes!”to river
revitalization. It should
be such a big a number
that political parties
that depend on
people’s vote, will
not forget it.
The Chief Ministers of all
the sixteen states that I
drove through are on board.
This is concurrence. This is
something that we could
not do for seventy years but
our political leadership has
matured today, where we
are all willing to sit togeth-
er, stand together and work
together for a cause that
matters to the nation.
Across the spectrum of
political parties, every one
of them are speaking in one
voice and supporting Rally
for Rivers. This is a wonder-
ful development in the
country because this was
the big hurdle that we
failed to cross so far.
What are some of your pro-
posed plans to ensure a
'nirmal' (pollution-free)
and 'aviral' (uninter-
rupted) flow of rivers?
Sadhguru: The draft poli-
cy looks at how a minimum
environmental flow of water
must be maintained in
rivers till the sea coast. This
flow must be sufficient for
the flora and fauna in the
riverine ecosystem. This
minimum flow should be
mandated for every river.
The draft also looks at
how an effective implemen-
tation of an appropriate
regulatory framework must
happen, to control river pol-
lution – both point source
such as industrial sewage
and non-point source such
as agricultural runoff. Point
8 December, 2017
source pollution can be
handled by incentivizing
adaptation of wastewater
treatment technologies
and heavy disincentivizing
of polluters.
The use of chemicals for
cultivation should also be
avoided in the riverside
areas. If our farmers are to
get good yields and make a
living out of agriculture,
what is needed is not
chemical inputs into the
soil. What is needed is
organic content. Soil will be
healthy only if we can put
back leaves from the trees
“
If you pay for your
sewage, what goes
into the river will be
reasonably good
water.This doesn’t
take decades to fix.
and animal waste into it. To
call soil, soil, a minimum of
two percent organic con-
tent has to be there in the
soil. If you take away this
organic content, soil
becomes unfit for cultiva-
tion. In states like Punjab,
Haryana, in Marathwada in
Maharashtra, southern
Tamil Nadu, northern
Karnataka, and some parts
of Andhra Pradesh, the
organic content in the soil
is 0.05 percent. This is a
sure recipe for the desertifi-
cation of this land, which
has provided food for us for
thousands of years.
Soil and rivers are
deeply connected. If we
deplete our soil, we will also
deplete our rivers.
What does the draft policy
says about current river
projects being imple-
mented across India?
Sadhguru: The draft pol-
icy recommendation’s
purview is majorly in
increasing the river flow in
the next 10 to 15 years. If
this does not happen,
there won’t be enough
water for any of these proj-
ects to be relevant.
The nature of demand
and supply management
projects, such as dams and
hydroelectric projects, are
immediate and short-term
solutions when we see it
from the perspective of the
country’s lifetime. The deci-
sion whether to go or not go
for such projects should
arise out of solid scientific
studies with a consultation
process including all stake-
holders.
Environmental impact
assessment studies must be
conducted before the start
of any such initiative even if
it is has sound scientific
background. This has been
covered in the draft policy
recommendation that has
been made public.
Do you support the pro-
posed projects of river-in-
terlinking and increasing
water transport? Will they
be beneficial or harmful in
the long run?
Sadhguru: Whenever we
look to redistribute water, it
should be done in a very
calibrated way. If it is need-
ed somewhere for flood
mitigation, it may have to
be done. But thinking that
all our problems will be
solved if you link rivers is
not true.
River-interlinking is
based on the assumption
that some river basins have
“surplus” water supply
while others have “deficit”,
and by linking them, water
supply can be more evenly
distributed. From our inter-
actions with scientists, we
have learnt that the idea of
a “surplus” or “deficit”
basin is limited and does
not take into consideration
varying climatic conditions.
For example, the mon-
soons have been weaken-
ing over the last few
decades in various parts of
India and the rainfall in
parts of the country is now
happening for fewer days
and often in very intense
spells. The “surplus” basins
may, in fact, face water
stress due to these
changes.
A few interlinking proj-
ects have already rolled
out. It would be ideal if we
evaluate the economic
gains from these projects
and weigh them against the
loss of natural resource
capital, before embarking
on new projects. Any new
proposal for interlinking
must strictly be evaluated
on the basis of scientific
and environmental merit
and long-term sustainabili-
ty, rather than on the basis
of emotions and politics.
And while assessing poten-
tial benefits, in the context
of our tropical climate, we
should account for the
resultant loss of water via
evaporation and ground
seepage.
In India, rivers are most-
ly forest-fed. So bringing
back the tree cover on
either sides of the river is
the only long-term sustain-
able solution to address
water scarcity and reduce
the impact of floods and
droughts.
Rivers' natural flow has
also been affected over the
years because huge
amounts of water are be-
ing diverted in canals, for
agriculture and industries,
etc. What are your
thoughts about it?
Sadhguru: Agriculture in
India is using up sixty to
eighty percent of the water
in the river. If we look at
many other nations that
are growing similar crops –
with much better yields –
they are using much less
water.
Our policy recommenda-
tion strongly advises a shift
to tree-based agriculture
practices with implementa-
tion of micro-irrigation
technologies. If we bring in
the right kind of technolo-
gies and create the neces-
sary humus on the land, the
consumption of water will
go down significantly, and
that itself will make the
river flow.
We must understand
that the large dams were
built when we were in a sur-
vival mode as a nation. In
1947, we were left with a
country that had no means
to live. The average life
expectancy was thirty-two
years. There was no indus-
try, business, commerce –
everything was destroyed
when the British left.
For almost fifty years, we
have done many desperate
things while in survival
mode. That happens in the
life of a nation.
Unfortunately our popula-
tions multiplied too rapidly –
not necessarily because of
reproduction – but simply
because the life expectancy
improved, which is a won-
derful achievement. But
from thirty-three crores we
came to hundred-and-thirty
crores. So the pressure on
EXPRESS WATER
 INTERVIEW
the land has increased. The
land-population ratio is very
bad in India. All these are the
realities we have to work
with.
So for the first fifty years
we have been in survival
mode. For the last twenty
years, we have been in
developmental mode. Now,
a time has come – the Rally
for Rivers is a turning point
– where we have to shift to a
sustainable mode.
What is the realistic time
frame we should look at,
for the revival of our
rivers?
Sadhguru: If we do the
right things for the next ten
to fifteen years in a con-
certed way, then in the next
twenty to twenty-five years,
we will have an increase of
anywhere between fifteen
to twenty percent of the
river flows.
Twenty to twenty-five
years means four to five
governments – going by the
usual democratic process.
We don’t know which party
will be in power after twenty
years, but if we want to keep
all of them focused on this,
it is important that the citi-
zens of India give a resound-
ing “Yes!” to river revitaliza-
tion. It should be such a big
a number that political par-
ties that depend on people’s
vote, will not forget it.
The way to make your
voice heard is to give a
missed call to a number we
have setup for this: 80009
80009. A missed call is your
vote for river revitalization.
We have got over 12 crore
missed calls so far – making
this a landmark people’s
movement in post-inde-
pendence India. During the
30-day rally, I drove over
9300 kilometers, and the
response from the people
was phenomenal. There
were 142 on-the-ground
events and 186 one-on-one
media interviews.
But I am asking for a
minimum of thirty crore
missed calls from the peo-
ple of the nation is because
thirty crore is about forty
EXPRESS WATER
percent of the electorate.
Usually, that’s how much it
takes to win an election.
But the young people in the
country should not stop at
thirty crore. All of us are
water drinking species,
isn’t it? So everybody who
consumes water must Rally
for Rivers.
Would you say there is a
need to make changes in
our Water Policies as a na-
tion, or the current policies
are sufficient?
Sadhguru: There is a
definitely a need for a
national policy to treat our
rivers as a national treas-
ure, not as individual pri-
vate property - as is being
done right now. As I said
above, water is a resource
that has to be managed,
and our nation has unfortu-
nately not looked at this
properly. An enforceable
law to determine how we
behave with our water bod-
ies is a must, which takes
into consideration the
entire spectrum of preser-
vation of soil, the many
species of life and the water
resource in this country. It
can no longer be left to indi-
vidual people to decide
what they want to do or not
do with our rivers.
Every year, we see
droughts and depletion in
water levels of rivers and
lakes, and on the other
hand floods are also a ma-
jor concern. How should
we balance our priorities?
Sadhguru: This cycle of
flood and drought is
because we are not able to
hold the water in the land.
There is a very beautiful
saying in the Tamil lan-
guage, which was said hun-
dreds of years ago. They
said, “Kaveri should come
walking, she should not
run. If she runs there will be
destruction.” This is the
wisdom of the past. If we
have to make her walk, we
are not talking about put-
ting up dams. If Kaveri is to
walk, there must be sub-
stantial vegetation along
“
the river sides. If you take
away all the vegetation
water will run away.
In this country, the way An enforceable
our monsoons work is such law to
that we have only an aver-
age of forty-five days of determine how
rain. What comes down in we behave with
forty-five days, we are our water
required to hold it in the bodies is a
land and slowly let it into
the rivers. You and me can-
must.
not do this. Only large-scale
vegetation or forests can
do this. Where there is veg-
etation, where there is an
enormous root system, and
where there is a whole lot of
bioactivity, when rain falls,
it will percolate into the soil
and will be held there, and
slowly flow into the rivers.
This will reduce the effects
of both flood and drought.
One thing that we tend
to overlook is that floods
every once in a few years is
part of the natural ecosys-
tem. Every river’s 100-year
flood level has been
marked and this area is
meant for the flood waters
to pass through. The rea-
son there is a lot of damage
and destruction during
floods is because we have business. If we make it eco- electricity and gas are
settled in the lands where nomically viable, people will metered and you pay for
the river is supposed to participate in it. As I said what you use. Why can’t we
flood. And because of earlier, it should not be have a system where you
reduction in the permanent ecology versus economy – pay for the sewage that
green cover in the river’s it should be economics comes out of your house or
catchment areas, the which sustains ecology. industry. The private sector
impact of the flood on peo- can set up water treatment
ple is increasing. Finally, what are your facilities and the law can
The increase in frequen- thoughts on the current mandate the minimum
cy of floods is also a part of practices of Sewage Treat- quality of the water before
global climate change, and ment and Wastewater it is let out into the river.
what we do as a country Reuse? And how should A public-private partner-
alone will not be enough to the industries support the ship system needs to be
address this issue. This government? established and run sus-
needs to determined action Sadhguru: Pollution is a tainably and efficiently. The
from leaders around the major issue that our rivers way the roads in our country
world. are facing, but I don’t see have been developed in
Unfortunately, what I see why these issues are not such a short span of time is
right now is that we still being handled yet. It just a case in point to show that
don’t seem to be serious takes a stringent law to fix it such initiatives are possible.
about handling the ecologi- in a matter of four to five It is just that these aspects
cal disaster we are heading years. There is no need for have not been prioritized. If
towards. We are not yet us to go and clean a river. If you pay for your sewage,
looking for solutions, we you stop putting pollutants what goes into the river will
are only looking to slow into the river, it will clean be reasonably good water.
down the disaster. If we itself in one flood season. This doesn’t take decades
want an effective solution What is needed are laws to fix. The necessary tech-
to be implement in a short and the necessary determi- nology is already present.
timeframe, we must make nation to implement them. What is needed is intent and
ecological solutions into a For example, today, water, commitment to execute.
December, 2017 9
INTERVIEW

WATER DIALOGUE
With
Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee
Additional Municipal
Commissioner (Projects),
Municipal Corporation of
Greater Mumbai (MCGM)
Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee, IAS of 1996
batch is best known for his ability to
successfully execute some of the
most challenging, ambitious and
prestigious projects in Maharashtra.
In his current avatar as the Additional
Municipal Commissioner (Projects) of
the Municipal Corporation of Greater
Mumbai, he is responsible for the
mega projects undertaken by MCGM,
like the Costal Road Project, Mumbai
Sewage Disposal Project, Solid Waste
Management and several water
supply projects. He is also responsible
for ensuring safe drinking water to all
the citizens of Mumbai, managing the
city’s sewage system, property tax,
octroi, all matters of finance and
taxation of MCGM, etc. In
conversation with Mayur Sharma...

10 December, 2017 EXPRESS WATER

 INTERVIEW
What is WATER for you?
Dr. Mukherjee: Water is
one of the most abundant-
ly available and most
unusual substances pres-
ent on our planet. One
comes across water in dif-
ferent forms like rain, river,
lakes, ice or sea, etc.
Though ¾ surface of earth
is covered with water, most
of it, say about 97% is in
the oceans, which is dense
with salts and not useful for
drinking or irrigation. The
remaining 3% water is in
the form of glaciers, deep
aquifers and surface water.
The readily available sur-
face sources are less than
1% of water available on
earth.
The association of
human beings with water
starts even before his birth,
i.e. the embryo swims in it
for nine prenatal months in
the warmth of the mother’s
womb. For that matter, the
very life on this planet
begins in the water. Every
cell in human body has a
fluid interior e.g. blood is
90% water, kidney is 82%
water, muscles are 75%
water, liver is 69% water
and living bones are 22%
water. As a physical entity, a
living person is 71% water
by weight. On an average, a
person drinks about 5-
times its weight of water
per year and in normal life
span consumes about
30,000 litres of water. In
essence, therefore, we can
say WATER IS LIFE on this
planet.
Please list a few chal-
lenges faced by you in
managing the mega-city’s
water & wastewater proj-
ects. How do you overcome
the challenges in them?
Dr. Mukherjee: Managing
water supply in a mega-city
like Mumbai is 24x7 X 365
days job. Water supply in
Mumbai is particularly
challenging due to the high
and dense population, the
gap in demand and supply,
the intermittent nature of
its supply and the distance
of its sources. Mumbai has
EXPRESS WATER
“
I am happy to inform
you that we have
been able to resolve
all the issues of the
Mumbai Sewage
Disposal Project
(MSDP) – and the
project has begun.
a high density of slums,
where it is very difficult to
extend the piped network.
In addition, there are settle-
ments on elevated terrains
in the fag-end of the sys-
tem. Almost the entire
water supply of Mumbai is
planned in such a way that
the supply is by gravity,
resulting in huge savings of
power. Therefore, we have
huge challenges of in-equi-
table distribution, contami-
nation, poor asset life, diffi-
culties in leak detection,
and a high quotient of non-
revenue-water.
Essentially, these chal-
lenges are being overcome
by reducing the demand-
supply gap. The Middle
Vaitarna Dam commis-
sioned in 2015 has given us
an additional 455 MLD
(Million Litres per Day).
This was the 9th fastest
RCC dam in the world and
the fastest constructed
dam in India. We augment-
ed our sources by 265
MLD in the last two years by
commissioning the 15.1 km
Gundavli Kapurwadi
Bhandup Complex Tunnel
(the longest water supply
tunnel in the country), the
Modak Sagar Lake Tapping
experiment (again, 2nd of
its type in India and 3rd in
the world), the commis-
sioning of the Bhandup
Water Recycling Plant
(2015) and the Panjrapur
Water Recycling plant
(2016). This is almost equal
to the water supply of the
Tansa Dam, and was
achieved without any nega-
tive environment impact.
We are in the process of
upgrading our wastewater
treatment facilities and
plan to create about 1500-
1800 MLD of tertiary treat-
ed water daily in the next 5
years. This shall be sup-
plied for non-potable pur-
poses and the potable
water, thus freed, shall be
made available for drinking
purposes.
“
We (MCGM) are the
first organization in
the country to
introduce the
concept of “Open
Technology
Deliverable Based
Contracts”.This has
indeed opened up
competition greatly
and has also made
the best and proven
technologies
available to us.
For fresh water, we are
planning the Gargai Project
(440 MLD), the Pinjal
Project (845 MLD) and the
Damanganga Pinjal River
Link Projects. Thus, we
have a holistic plan in place
and its implantation has
commenced.
I am happy to mention
that we supply 165 LPCD of
water daily to our citizens,
i.e. the highest anywhere.
We have also com-
menced projects of leak
detection and repair, con-
tamination avoidance, equi-
table distribution, 24/7
water supply and the
results are beginning to
show. On the conservation
side, we are focussing on
leak-detection, reducing
the non-revenue-water per-
centage, metering, improv-
ing the quality of water and
educating people on the
need to save water.
We have appointed a
high powered committee to
look into the issues of
inequitable distribution.
Our Water Distribution
Improvement Program also
looks into these aspects.
What is your budget for
the water & wastewater
projects in current finan-
cial year? How do you plan
to spend it?
Dr. Mukherjee: The gen-
eral budget will mainly be
spent on ‘Asset Renewal’ as
replacement of old
pipelines and reservoirs
repairs; strengthening of
transmission and distribu-
tion system by laying new
pipelines and tunnels;
refurbishment of existing
pipelines by suitable inter-
nal lining and external cor-
rosion resistant coating
and re-construction of
water treatment plants and
refurbishment of old water
treatment plants. Amongst
the larger projects, we are
planning to commence
work of a conveyance sys-
tem of underground tun-
nels and new pipelines to
replace our existing old
trunk mains.
Please tell us - about the
current and upcoming big
projects on water treat-
ment & sewage treatment.
I am happy to inform you
December, 2017 11
 INTERVIEW
that we have been able to
resolve all the issues of
Mumbai Sewage Disposal
Project (MSDP), which was
held up since last decade
and project has begun. We
have started work on
Colaba WWTF (37 MLD),
Vallabhnagar and Charkop
pumping stations. CPCB
has now finalized discharge
standards. This year, we
shall commence works of
Bhandup, Ghatkopar,
Versova, Worli, Bandra and
Dharavi WWTFs.
In addition to treatment,
we have also commenced
the process of making
Mumbai 100% sewered.
The Mumbai Sewerage
Improvement Program
(MSIP) envisages 100%
connectivity in the coming
5 years. Works of the same
have also commenced.
On the fresh water side,
we have finished planning
of the Gargai, Pinjal and
Damanganga Pinjal River
Link Projects. Now we are in
the process of seeking vari-
ous regulatory clearances
and approvals, and once all
that is received, work shall
start. We have also planned
an underground con-
veyance system of tunnels
to replace the age old trunk
mains. Some of these
works have commenced
and some will begin in
2018-19.
What are some the latest
technologies which are
being in used in your proj-
ects?
Dr. Mukherjee: From a
narrow viewpoint of tech-
nology selection, Tunnel
Boring Machines (TBM) for
water supply were intro-
duced in India by us. The
5500mm finished diameter
water supply tunnel from
Gundavli- Kapurbavdi-
Bhandup complex is per-
haps the largest in world.
MCGM has used all the
available technologies for
water treatment plants like
conventional settlers at the
old WTP at Bhandup, tubu-
lar settlers in new WTP at
Bhandup, hopper bottom/
12 December, 2017
flat bottom/ lamella at
Panjrapur WTP and
Dissolved Air Floatation
(DAF) in the latest refur-
bished WTP at Vehar.
Robotic machines have
been used for periodic
reservoir cleaning.
However, from a wider
standpoint of adopting best
practices, we are the first
organization in country to
introduce concept of “Open
Technology Deliverable
Based Contracts”. Here,
technology is not specified
but deliverables are very
strictly defined. All tech-
nologies which are able to
achieve the same can com-
pete and selection is by the
best price criterion. This
has indeed opened up com-
petition greatly and has
also made the best and
proven technologies avail-
able to us.
Tell us about the current
state of ‘water distribution
network’ in Mumbai. What
are your plans to make it a
smart & sustainable 24x7
water supply network?
Dr. Mukherjee: The
Water Distribution Network
of Mumbai is quite strong
hydraulically. Any water
supply distribution network
is ideally designed for 24-
hours (peak factor 1) and
checked for 8-hours (peak
factor 3). In Mumbai, origi-
nally system was designed
for 8-hours supply and in
course of time with
reduced supply hours, the
distribution system is
strengthened to meet a
higher peak (therefore less-
er supply hours). Thus, with
many areas currently hav-
ing average 2-hours water
supply (peak factor 12) do
not require any major
strengthening of distribu-
tion network when supply
hours are extended to 24x7.
Leak management will
be a crucial issue on con-
version to continuous
water supply. The pressure
and flow data loggers with
real time monitoring will be
mandatory and the net-
work is being equipped with
“
“The reduction in
Non-Revenue-Water
and 24x7 water
supply will make the
Mumbai water
supply as one of the
best water supply
systems in the
world.”
flow and pressure regulat-
ing and measuring devices
with real-time data trans-
mission facility at distribu-
tion control centres.
You have recently men-
tioned about your focus on
a “Water Distribution Im-
provement Program”. Why
do you think it is so impor-
tant to “prevent leakages
and water loss”?
Dr. Mukherjee: The cur-
rent estimated Non-
Revenue-Water (NRW) is
around 22% and if the net-
work is charged for 24x7,
the NRW is likely to
increase substantially.
Therefore, it is very impor-
tant to manage leaks. In the
current scenario, locating
leaks by conventional
(sounding) method is diffi-
cult due to various issues
like supply times, traffic,
low pressures, deeper
mains and parking along
the side strips of the roads.
However, the state-of-the-
art Helium method used in
WDIP overcomes most of
these hindrances.
Moreover, the flow & pres-
sure regulating devices in
the network will prevent
unnecessary pressuriza-
tion of the network and
thereby will control the
quantum of leak. All these
aspects are covered under
our “Water Distribution
Improvement Program”.
You recently talked about
‘complete automation’ of
water and sewage net-
works in the city. What is
the progress so far?
Dr. Mukherjee: The
SCADA (Supervisory
Control And Data
Acquisition) system was
installed in MCGM in the
year 2001. The ‘flow’ and
‘pressure’ from the source
to Water Treatment Plant
(WTP) and the Master
Balancing Reservoir (MBR)
to service reservoirs is
being monitored 24x7 X
365 days in control cen-
tres.
Additional/ replace-
ment of flow meters along
with pressure recorders in
primary (from source to
water treatment plant) &
secondary system (master
balancing reservoir to
service reservoirs) have
been identified after gap
analysis and tenders have
being floated for the same.
In the tertiary system
(service reservoirs to con-
sumer end), H/W and T
ward will be covered under
pilot phase of WDIP and
rest of the wards will be
covered in phased manner.
Currently, around 1,500
million litres of waste-
water is dumped into the
sea without being treated.
In that light, how impor-
tant will be the planned
Rs. 2,020 crore project for
city’s largest Sewage
Treatment Plant (STP) in
Malad?
The present Malad
WWTF serves a population
of over 25 lakh. It is located
in CRZ I area and has a
small footprint. It has only
a facility of preliminary
treatment, and hence need
to be upgraded to the lat-
est standards. However,
though the Hon. High
Court has given its go
ahead for cutting the man-
groves of the required foot-
print, and the CRZ clear-
ance is received, we are
awaiting the forest clear-
ance and the land for
replanting the mangroves.
Once these clearances are
received, the work of this
WWTF shall be taken up on
top priority.
Looking at the possibilities
of various internal and ex-
ternal threats, is water
safety and security a con-
cern for BMC?
Dr. Mukherjee: There are
no known threats to water
sources of Mumbai. The
sources are located in the
remote areas amid forest
and wildlife sanctuaries.
The transmission system
is also having provision of
inter-basin transfer with
adequate connectivity and
as such water security is
maintained.
External threat is
beyond mortal control,
and wherever possible,
surveillance and regular
patrolling is in place.
However, that should
not make anybody com-
placent. Fresh water is one
of our scarcest resources
and one needs to use it
wisely as they say, save
water, save life.
Finally, being the Addi-
tional Municipal Commis-
sioner (Projects) of the
city, what is your vision
for the city and its water?
Dr. Mukherjee: We are
working towards making
the city water reliant and
surplus. In addition, we are
trying to augment our
sources in an environment
friendly matter. In fact, the
265 MLD water source
which we have created
over the last 2 years can be
an example of all ULBs/
RLBs in the country. We
are placing great empha-
sis in recycling of water
and wastewater. On the
distribution side, we are
focussing on equitable dis-
tribution, supply of pure
water - free from contami-
nation, and water available
round the clock. So my
vision is as follows: Water
Security, Water Safety and
Water Conservation.
And I must add that the
reduction in NRW and
24x7 water supply will
make the Mumbai water
supply as one of the best
water supply systems in
the world.
EXPRESS WATER
 IN THE NEWS
Endress+Hauser Installs EQMS at
MIDC Ranjangaon’s Central
Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP)
Mayur Sharma
Pune
ENDRESS+HAUSER HAS
installed its innovative
EQMS at MIDC
Ranjangaon’s CETP. With
this installation, E&M divi-
sion of MIDC Pune has pio-
neered in the domain of
environmental technologies
with the application of
EQMS system at govern-
ment facilitated CETP of
sub-division MIDC
Ranjangaon.
Real time monitoring of
these treatment systems
helps in ensuring regulatory
compliance and reduces
the risk of effluents dis-
charge. This EQMS based
Progress Made on Adoption of National Water Policy in India
EW Staff
New Delhi
THE NATIONAL WATER
Policy (2012) formulated by
the Ministry of Water
Resources, RD & GR, inter-
alia in India, advocates con-
servation, promotion and
protection of water and
highlights the need for aug-
menting the availability of
water through rainwater
harvesting, direct use of
rainfall and other manage-
ment measures. The
National Water Policy 2012
has been forwarded to all
14 December, 2017
process automation has
provided the MIDC execu-
tives a novel opportunity to
observe the remote plants
in real-time and to guide the
sub-divisional offices to
efficiently execute their
duties, as real-time moni-
toring alerts the engineers
if concentrations of efflu-
ents cross the regulatory
levels. Online monitoring
leads to cost-savings by
increasing the efficiency of
treatment process.
The data captured from
the instruments is collected
at Central Pollution Control
Board (CPCB), New Delhi,
Maharashtra Pollution
Control Board (MPCB),
Sion and MIDC office at
Pune. The necessity of cap-
turing this data helps the
government to regulate the
quality of water which is
defined based on parame-
ters like Chemical Oxygen
Demand (COD), Biological
state/UTs and concerned
central government min-
istries/ departments for
adoption.
The Government of India
has also circulated a model
bill to all the states/UTs to
enable them to enact suit-
able groundwater legisla-
tion for its regulation and
development, which
includes provision of rain-
water harvesting. So far, 15
states/UTs have adopted
and implemented the
groundwater legislation on
the lines of model bill. Also,
Central Ground Water
Oxygen demand (BOD),
Total Suspended Solids
(TSS), Chlorine, pH and
flow.
Contamination of
ground and surface water
can happen from several
sources. In urban areas,
careless disposal of indus-
trial effluents and other
wastes leads to poor quality
of water. The CPCB directed
MPCB to regulate various
industry facilitators like
Maharashtra Industrial
Development Corporation
(MIDC) for treating and
monitoring industrial efflu-
ents in a web-based trans-
parent manner. The treated
water from November 2016
till date is 70 MLD litre
cubes, which is used for irri-
gation by the farmers in the
vicinity.
Dilip Singh Chauhan, the
Executive Engineer at
MIDC, Ranjangaon said, “It
was easy to install the
Authority (CGWA) has been
constituted under “The
Environment (Protection)
Act, 1986” for the purpose
of regulation and control of
groundwater development
and management in the
country.
CGWA has so far notified
162 areas in the country for
the purpose of regulation of
groundwater. CGWA has
also issued advisories to
states and UTs to take
measures to promote/
adopt artificial recharge to
groundwater/ rainwater
harvesting. So far, 30
EQMS and it has an
extremely quick response
time. The fact that by sitting
at one place our engineers
can monitor different levels
of toxicity in water, that has
been already treated, surely
saves a lot of time and
efforts. Till date, we have
not faced any issues with
the system as it has been
working well, as per the
standards.”
states/UTs have made rain-
water harvesting mandatory
by enacting laws or by for-
mulating rules & regulations
or by including provisions in
their building by-laws or
through suitable govern-
ment orders.
As per CGWA guidelines,
any user withdrawing
groundwater for industrial/
infrastructure/ mining proj-
ect has to obtain ‘No
Objection Certificate (NOC)’.
Any withdrawal of ground-
water without valid NOC
from CGWA is liable to have
penal action under Section
“
With the help of EQMS
system, MIDC Pune
has provided a
transparent way to
monitor and supervise
the execution of CPCB
and MPCB regulations
in real-time with
remote accessibility.
We can proudly
conclude that our
process automation
has caused a
paradigm shift in
betterment of control
and efficiency at all
fronts.
Kailash Desai
COO - Endress+Hauser
15 of ‘The Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986’.Dilip
Singh Chauhan, the
Executive Engineer at MIDC,
Ranjangaon said, “It was
easy to install the EQMS and
it has an extremely quick
response time. The fact that
by sitting at one place our
engineers can monitor dif-
ferent levels of toxicity in
water, that has been already
treated, surely saves a lot of
time and efforts. Till date, we
have not faced any issues
with the system as it has
been working well, as per
the standards.”
EXPRESS WATER
 IN THE NEWS

Grundfos Receives ‘India’s Most

Trusted Company 2017’ Award
Research Group (MRG).
The India’s Most Trusted
Companies Awards 2017 is a
listing of India’s 100 famous
and fastest growing compa-
nies which have played a sig-
nificant role in the success
of the country, and have
unambiguously unveiled
themselves as the next set
of game-changers serving
Mayur Sharma Minister of State, Water through their various con-
Mumbai Resource and Conservation, sumer-facing businesses.
Vijay Bapu Shivtare. With a spotlight on inno-
Grundfos has received The company was select- vation, international scala-
the ‘India’s Most Trusted ed under the category of bility, differentiation and
Company’ award during a ‘India’s Most Trusted Pump strategic investment to the
ceremony in Mumbai by the Manufacturers’ by Media Indian economy, this award
celebrates the success of
some of India’s fastest grow-
ing companies.
Commenting on this
recognition, Ranganath N K,
Managing Director - Indian companies across
Grundfos India, said, “At
Grundfos, we strive to be
among the industry leaders
when it comes to finding
ways of using new technolo-
gies to move and treat water
and wastewater. Our com-
munication is open and hon-
est among ourselves and
with the world around us. We
put the facts on the table -
also, when it is not pleasant.
Therefore, to receive this
award based on trust is a
great acknowledgement of
what we stand for”.
Around 500 leading
the service and infrastruc-
ture sectors were evaluated
by the International Brand
Consulting Corporation,
USA based on various
parameters such as market
share, innovation, workplace
culture, leadership, business
ethics, governance, corpo-
rate social responsibility and
reputation as part of the
selection process.

Xylem Reports Strong Revenue

and Orders in Third Quarter 2017
million, or USD 0.65 per
Xylem generated share, in the quarter, a 20
USD 1.2 billion in percent increase over the
3rd quarter 2017 prior year period, excluding
the impact of restructuring,
revenue, up 33% realignment and acquisi-
tion-related charges, and
year-over-year other items. Revenue in
including the third quarter, including the
contribution from Xylem’s
impact of Sensus business, was USD
acquisitions, 1.2 billion, a 33 percent
increase year-over-year.
proforma Xylem now forecasts
organic revenue full-year 2017 revenue to be
approximately USD 4.70
increased 5%. billion, up 24 to 25 percent,
And the global including growth from pre-
viously announced acquisi-
orders grew 6% tions and projected
organically. impacts of foreign
exchange translation.
Mayur Sharma Xylem has combined its
New York Analytics, Sensus and
Visenti businesses effective
XYLEM INC. HAS reported second quarter 2017. As a
third quarter 2017 net result of this change, the
income of USD 105 million, company now reports the
or USD 0.58 per share. The financial and operational
company delivered adjust- results from these busi-
ed net income of USD 119 nesses as one segment,
which has now been named
Measurement & Control
Solutions.
Xylem’s water infra-
structure segment consists
of its portfolio of business-
es serving clean water
delivery, wastewater trans-
port and treatment, and
dewatering. Third quarter
2017 segment revenue was
USD 520 million, a seven-
percent organic increase
over third quarter 2016.
This growth reflects
improved public utility
demand across geogra-
phies globally as well as
several significant treat-
ment project deliveries. The
industrial sector continued
to strengthen as conditions
improved in mining and oil
and gas. Segment revenues
in emerging markets grew
16 percent in the quarter,
the second consecutive
quarter of double-digit
growth.
Xylem’s applied water
segment consists of its
“
Our teams continued to execute well, delivering
strong results across all business segments in
the third quarter.As conditions in our varied end
markets continued to improve, we generated
solid growth and, in some cases, captured
share, expanding the reach of Xylem solutions.
We delivered positive organic growth in each of
our geographic regions, while continuing to
deliver on our productivity initiatives.
Patrick Decker
President & Chief Executive Officer, Xylem
portfolio of businesses in Xylem’s measurement &
residential and commercial control solutions segment
building services, and consists of businesses in
industrial applications. smart metering, network
Third quarter 2017 seg- technologies, advanced
ment revenue was USD 354 data analytics and analytic
million. The commercial instrumentation. Third
end market remained quarter 2017 segment rev-
strong across the U.S., enue was USD 321 million.
Europe and China, while the The Sensus business deliv-
residential business was ered double-digit growth in
particularly strong in China the energy and software
as demand for secondary services sectors. The water
water supply increased, as sector revenues were down
well as in the U.S. driven by due to a strong year-ago
promotional activity. This quarter that included chan-
growth was partially offset nel stocking of a new prod-
by ongoing softness in agri- uct and timing of current
culture, primarily in U.S. project deliveries.

EXPRESS WATER December, 2017 15

 IN THE NEWS
WABAG, NABARD & NGOS ink
MoUs for Watershed Programs
S Nagoor Ali Jinnah, Chief General Manager Represented NABARD, and
WABAG represented by Mr. S Varadarajan, Director & Chief Growth
Officer at the MoU Signing Ceremony
Mayur Sharma
Chennai
WABAG, A PURE play
water technology Indian
multinational and NABARD,
the institution for agricul-
ture and rural development
in the country along with
WAPCOS Pays its Highest Ever Dividend of Rs. 42 Crore
EW Staff
New Delhi
UNION WATER
RESOURCES, River
Development and Ganga
Rejuvenation Minister Nitin
Gadkari has received a divi-
dend cheque of Rs. 42.13
crore from CMD of WAP-
COS Ltd. RK Gupta.
He also presented bonus
shares worth Rs. 30 crore to
the minister. The dividend
of Rs. 42.13 crore (inclusive
of dividend tax) is the high-
16 December, 2017
three NGOs have entered
into MoUs for implementa-
tion of watershed develop-
ment projects under
WABAG-CSR program.
Under these MoUs,
WABAG agrees to provide
grant assistance to three
reputed NGOs amounting
est-ever since inception of
the company.
With the issuance of
bonus shares of Rs.30
crore, the company’s paid
up capital has increased by
32.5 times (from Rs.2 crore
to Rs.65 crore), during last
seven years. Speaking on
the occasion, Gadkari said
that in the field of major
infrastructure projects, par-
ticularly in construction of
dams and reservoirs, irriga-
tion channels, water supply
and sanitation, WAPCOS is
to Rs.2.25 crores with
matching contribution by
NABARD, aggregating to
Rs.4.50 crores. The pro-
posed projects are widely
spread out in Virudhunagar,
Tuticorin and Dindigul
Districts of Tamil Nadu
state and will be imple-
mented by reputed NGOs -
Social Education
Economical Development
Society (SEEDS), Vidiyel
Trust and Centre for
Improved Rural Health and
Environmental Education
(CIRHEP), respectively.
The objectives are -
enhancement of livelihood
security, water conserva-
tion, prevent migration,
an established brand name
in India and abroad. He said
“I have been particularly
impressed with the compa-
ny’s pursuit of govern-
ment’s goal of partnering
with our friends in develop-
ing countries to build up
their capacities through
projects supported by
India”.
Speaking on the occa-
sion, Union Minister of
State for Water Resources,
River Development and
Ganga Rejuvenation, Dr.
employment generation,
long-term sustainability
through community partici-
pation for maintenance of
community assets like vari-
ous water harvesting struc-
tures. This is a 4-year proj-
ect that will be implement-
ed at a cost of around
Rs.4.50 crores covering
around 9200 acres. Around
2500 households will be
impacted on implementa-
tion of these projects.
Last year, WABAG tied
up with NABARD for similar
projects for a value of
around Rs.5.00 crores
including the matching
contribution and the work
in these two districts
Satya Pal Singh said that
WAPCOS is an important
link between the ministry
and state and union territo-
ries in the execution of proj-
ects supported by the union
government. He said the
company is also a major
source of various surveys
and reports on utilization of
water resources, river
basins studies, aquifer
mapping, agricultural pro-
ductivity, etc.
Union Minister of State
for Water Resources, River
Development and Ganga
Rejuvenation Arjun Ram
Meghwal in his address
referred to various projects
undertaken by WAPCOS in
Rajasthan.
WAPCOS also signed an
agreement and two MoUs
on the occasion. The agree-
ment was signed with the
Central Water Commission,
the Water Resources
Department, Government
of Bihar and the Water
Coupled with WABAG’s
earlier tie-up with
NABARD, this large
scale intervention in
the water stewardship
covers 5 districts in
Tamil Nadu and brings
the areas under water-
shed around 20000
acres, benefiting over
7000 households at a
total cost of around Rs.
9.50 crores.
already commenced and
making good progress.
With this, the total CSR
investment of WABAG for
NABARD watershed devel-
opment projects aggre-
gates to around Rs.4.75
crores.
Resources Department,
Government of Jharkhand
for execution of North Koel
Reservoir Project on
turnkey-basis as project
management consultants.
The project is situated
on North Koel River which is
a tributary of Sone River
finally joining the river
Ganga.
The North Koel Reservoir
is located in the most back-
ward tribal areas in
Palamau and Garhwa dis-
tricts of Jharkhand State.
The project aims to provide
irrigation to 1,11,521
hectares of land annually.
During the year 2016-
2017, WAPCOS has
achieved its highest ever
gross income of Rs. 975.44
crore, profitability of Rs.
161.38 crore and secured
new business of Rs. 1983.6
crore.
Net worth of company
has reached an all-time
high at Rs.469.6 crore.
EXPRESS WATER
 IN THE NEWS
FICCI Honours Dow India as ‘Product Innovator of the Year’
Mayur Sharma
Mumbai
AT THE RECENTLY con-
cluded FICCI India Chem
Awards, Dow India emerged
as the ‘Product Innovator of
the Year’ in the chemical
industry for its high per-
forming innovation - DOW
FILMTEC™ FORTILIFE™.
The FORTILIFE™ portfo-
lio is part of an innovative
approach to water recovery
developed by Dow Water
and Process Solutions,
enabling recovery of up to
Dow RO Technology Provides Safer Drinking Water
at Oman’s Largest Seawater Desalination Plant
EW Staff
Oman
DOW WATER & Process
Solutions, a business unit
of The Dow Chemical
Company, was selected by
SUEZ, a Reverse Osmosis
(RO) desalination plant
design, construction and
operations leader since
1969, to supply its
advanced RO elements to
desalinate seawater at the
Barka Desalination Plant -
phase-4 (Barka IWP), locat-
ed in Barka in South
Batinah governorate of
Oman. Located in the
Middle East, one of the dri-
est regions in the world, the
new desalination plant has
a capacity to deliver 281
million liters of safer drink-
ing water per day, helping
alleviate water scarcity in
area and positively con-
tributing to the security of
water supply in country.
The Barka IWP Plant will
become the largest seawa-
ter desalination plant in the
Sultanate of Oman and will
also be in the top 10 largest
seawater RO desalination
plants worldwide.
A consortium formed by
SUEZ, Engie, ITOCHU
Corporation, and WJ Towell
& Co LLC is in charge of the
EXPRESS WATER
85% of liquid discharge,
reducing energy consump-
tion by up to 10% and
reducing cleaning costs by
30-50% with an aim to
achieve Zero Liquid
Discharge (ZLD) at lowest
cost of operation.
Based on water filtration
technologies such as ultra-
filtration, reverse osmosis,
nanofiltration and ion
exchange, MLD/ ZLD tech-
niques are helping industri-
al users meet major chal-
lenges in wastewater reuse
and high water recovery
design, construction, own-
ership, operation and main-
tenance of the Barka IV
desalination plant under a
Build-Own-Operate (BOO)
basis. The project is struc-
tured as an Independent
Water Project (IWP) with
Oman Power and Water
Procurement Co. (OPWP)
purchasing the potable
water produced by the proj-
ect under a water purchase
agreement with a term of
20 years.
SUEZ is leading the
design, construction and
operation of the Barka IWP
plant that is scheduled to
begin commercial opera-
tion in April 2018. The
Barka IWP plant will use
more than 22,000 DOW
FILMTEC™ RO elements.
“SUEZ is very proud that
its consortium was chosen
to design, build and operate
the Barka IWP desalination
plant. The advanced
reverse osmosis elements
supplied by Dow will con-
tribute in a significant man-
ner to the performance of
the plant to ensure sustain-
able access to water in one
of the driest regions in the
world,” said Marie-Ange
Debon, Senior Executive
Vice President in charge of
the international division of
Somil Mehta, TS&D Manager, Dow Energy & Water, Receiving the Award
on Behalf of the Company from Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State
for Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India
operations - with next gen-
eration innovations such as
FILMTEC™ FORTILIFE™ RO
SUEZ.
A key innovation in the
RO system is the use of
innovative DOW FILMTEC™
SEAMAXX™ seawater RO
elements. The system
design, using nearly 9,000
SEAMAXX elements, was
selected by SUEZ as the
most efficient solution to
minimize total water cost
for project. The SEAMAXX
elements were launched in
the market in 2014 and it
features, since then, the
highest water permeability
available in seawater RO
product market.
“Reverse osmosis is the
most widely used desalina-
tion technology, and energy
consumption is a key factor
in operating costs of such
systems,” says Alexander
Lane, Commercial Director
for Europe, Middle East,
Africa and India with Dow
Water & Process Solutions,
“DOW FILMTEC™ SEA-
MAXX™ RO elements pro-
vide advanced seawater
desalination RO technology
and are designed for the
lowest energy consumption
available from seawater RO
elements. The technology
helps facilities minimize
operating costs, reduce
capital costs and maximize
efficiency. We look forward
enabling ongoing perform-
ance improvements.
“We take pride in being
Amalgam Biotech Wins Excellence
Award 2017 for Environmentally Sound
Management of Toxic Chemicals
Ashutosh Vadanagekar (MD) and Anurag Kumar Jha (Business Head)
Receiving the Award from Environment Activist Dr. Vandana Shiva
Mayur Sharma
New Delhi
AMALGAM BIOTECH, A
division of Amalgam
Engineering, has been hon-
oured with the Aqua
Foundations Excellence
Award 2017 under the cate-
gory of ‘Environmentally
Sound Management of
Toxic Chemicals in the
Industrial Sector’.
The Aqua Excellence
Awards are the highest
awards given by Aqua
Foundation to its members,
stakeholders and contribu-
tors in the field of water,
environment, energy, earth
sciences, atmospheric sci-
ences, planetary sciences,
to collaborating with SUEZ
and integrating this tech-
nology in the Barka IWP
recognized for our efforts to
weave sustainability in
manufacturing in the coun-
try. This win clearly shows
manufacturers’ shift in per-
spective towards sustain-
able solutions and will
encourage us to innovate
further, to meet the needs
of local market”, said Sudhir
Shenoy, CEO, DOW India.
The award ceremony
was attended by Vijay
Rupani, CM of Gujarat, and
Ananth Kumar, Minister for
Chemicals and Fertilizers
from Government of India.
pollution control and sus-
tainability solution.
On behalf of Amalgam
Biotech, the award was
received by Ashutosh
Vadanagekar (Managing
Director) and Anurag
Kumar Jha (Business
Head).
Amalgam Biotech
received this award
because of its revolutionary
product “Bacta Cult” - a
bio-culture with superbugs
bacteria to remove water
pollution. It is used in the
industries for Effluent
Treatment Plants (ETPs),
residential colonies for
Sewage Treatment Plants
(STPs), polluted lakes and
in river cleaning.
plant to help increase the
potable water supply in
Oman.”
December, 2017 17
 IN THE NEWS
ANDRITZ to
Supply Irrigation
Pumps to India
These vertical volute pumps feature
low energy consumption, achieved
due to their very high hydraulic
efficiency of up to 90%.
Megha Engineering & form a concession company
Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL),
Hyderabad, India, to equip
three pumping stations with
a total of 27 vertical volute
pumps near village of
Kaleshwaram in Telangana
state. The order value is
more than 60 million euros.
Start-up is scheduled for
June 2018.
One pumping station
conveys 660 cubic meters
of water per second from
the Pranahita River and then
through other pumping sta-
tions into a reservoir. This
reservoir will ensure a sus-
tainable supply of water for
agricultural irrigation in the
cities Karimnagar, Medak,
Nizamabad, Nalgonda, and
in the Ranga Reddy district.
EW Staff ANDRITZ’s vertical
Hyderabad volute pumps feature low
energy consumption,
INTERNATIONAL TECH- achieved due to their very
NOLOGY GROUP ANDRITZ high hydraulic efficiency of
has received an order from up to 90 percent.
LANXESS Listed in Dow Jones Sustainability Indices Europe and World
Mayur Sharma enth consecutive time in
Mumbai Dow Jones Sustainability
Index World. The composi-
SPECIALTY-CHEMICALS tion of this sustainability
COMPANY LANXESS has index, which is recognized
been listed again in two throughout the world, is
Dow Jones Sustainability determined once a year on
Indices. LANXESS will again the basis of financially rele-
be part of Dow Jones vant environmental, social
Sustainability Index Europe and governance factors.
(DJSI). The group has also Among other achievements
been included for the sev- which LANXESS highlight-
18 December, 2017
Proposal for Singapore’s Fifth
Desalination Plant Awarded to Tuas
Power-STM Consortium
EW Staff
Hyderabad
PUB, SINGAPORE’S
NATIONAL Water Agency,
has selected Tuas Power -
Singapore Technologies
Marine Consortium (TP-
STM) as the preferred bidder
for Singapore’s fifth desali-
nation plant, to be located
on Jurong Island. As pre-
ferred bidder, TP-STM will
to enter into a Water
Purchase Agreement (WPA)
with PUB. The WPA will take
full effect once all agree-
ments have been finalized
and executed, and conces-
sion company achieves
financial close.
The desalination plant on
Jurong Island is expected to
commence operations in
2020 and will add 30 million
gallons (MGD) or approxi-
mately 137,000 cubic metres
of water per day to nation’s
water supply. The seawater
reverse-osmosis desalina-
tion plant will be co-located
with Tuas Power’s existing
Tembusu Multi-Utilities
Complex to derive synergies
in resources such as seawa-
ter intake and outfall struc-
tures, and energy from the
in-plant generation facilities.
In February 2017, four pre-
qualified applicants were
invited to submit their pro-
ed this year one was the
improvement in emissions
and water consumption as
well as in the area of per-
sonnel development.
Hence, LANXESS ranks
among the top ten percent
of chemical industry.
“We have firmly
anchored the principle of
sustainable development in
our corporate strategy. To
posals for desalination
plant. These applicants pos-
sessed suitable land for the
plant, and demonstrated
synergies with co-located
facilities on Jurong Island. Of
these, eight bids were sub-
mitted by three applicants,
namely TP-STM, Keppel
Infrastructure Holdings and
Sembcorp Utilities - SUEZ
International Consortium. At
a first-year price of USD 0.91
per cubic metre, TP-STM
offered the most competi-
tive tariff among three bid-
ders. It will supply desalinat-
ed water to PUB over a 25-
year period from 2020 to
2045.
The desalination plant on
Jurong Island is PUB’s sev-
enth Design-Build-Own-
Operate project between
PUB and the private sector.
The first six are the 30 MGD
SingSpring Desalination
Plant, the 32 MGD Keppel-
Seghers Ulu Pandan
NEWater Plant, the 50 MGD
SembCorp NEWater Plant,
the 70 MGD TuaSpring
Desalination Plant, the 50
MGD BEWG-UESH NEWater
Plant and more recently, the
30 MGD Keppel Marina East
Desalination Plant which is
currently under construc-
tion.
Desalinated water is one
of PUB’s Four National Taps,
a long term water supply
Matthias Zachert
“
Desalinated water is a
key part of Singapore’s
water supply portfolio.
As a weather-
independent source,it
strengthens the
reliability of our water
supply against
droughts.This fifth
plant is part of our plans
to expand desalination
capacity to meet up to
30% of our future water
needs in the long term.
Young Joo Chye
Director of Engineering
Development and
Procurement, PUB Singapore
strategy to ensure a robust
and sustainable supply of
water for Singapore. The
other three sources are
water from local catch-
ments, imported water from
Johor and NEWater.
Desalination currently meets
up to 25% of Singapore’s
water demand. The third
desalination plant is expect-
ed to be completed in Tuas
by 2017, and the fourth in
Marina East by 2020.
be listed again in these
important indices is a con-
firmation of our exceptional
engagement in this area”,
said Matthias Zachert, CEO,
LANXESS.
The DJSI is compiled
through collaboration
between S&P Dow Jones
Indices, and RobecoSAM,
an asset manager in sus-
tainability investments.
EXPRESS WATER
 MOVEMENTS
International Water
Association (IWA)
Kala Vairavamoorthy
Internationally recognized
water resource manage-
ment expert, KALA
VAIRAVAMOORTHY, has
been appointed Executive
Director of International
Water Association (IWA).
He will be based in the IWA’s
Global Operations Office in
The Hague, Netherlands.
Vairavamoorthy has a par-
ticular interest in urban
water issues, combining a
strong engineering back-
ground with practical inter-
national experience. He has
a strong international pro-
file working closely with the
World Bank, African
Development Bank, UN-
Habitat, Global Water
Partnership and European
Union. Vairavamoorthy is
joining IWA from
International Water
Management Institute
(IWMI), where he was
Deputy Director General for
Research. Prior to IWMI,
Vairavamoorthy was the
Founding Dean of Patel
College of Global
Sustainability, and a manufacturing operations.
tenured Professor in
Department of Civil and
Environmental Engineering
at University of South
Florida.
KSB
Aktiengesellschaft
DR. STEPHAN BROSS has
joined the board of man-
agement of KSB
Aktiengesellschaft. The
supervisory board of
EXPRESS WATER
Dr. Stephan Bross
Frankenthal based pumps
and valves manufacturer
has appointed the
Hamburg-born engineer to
Board of Management,
which now has four mem-
bers. He will be responsible
for Technology. After com-
pleting his doctorate in
mechanical engineering,
Stephan Bross joined KSB
in 1993, where he held posi-
tions in Research, Design,
Engineering, Development
and Product Management.
Xylem Inc.
Colin Sabol
Xylem Inc has named
COLIN SABOL as Xylem
Senior Vice President and
President of Sensus &
Analytics. He succeeds
Randy Bays, who will move
into an advisory role with a
focus on Xylem’s global
Both will report to Xylem
President and CEO, Patrick
Decker.
Mr. Sabol is Chairman of
Xylem Watermark, the com-
pany’s corporate citizen-
ship and social investment
program. As previously
announced, Xylem has
combined its Sensus and
Analytics businesses and
now reports the financial
and operational results
from these businesses as
one segment.
Endress+Hauser
ENDRESS+HAUSER, the
Switzerland-based instru-
mentation and process
automation company has
announced the appoint-
ment of KAILASH DESAI
as its new Chief Operating
Officer for India. He has
been promoted to this
position and will take
charge of the India busi-
ness. In his stint with
Endress+Hauser since
2003, he worked in vari-
ous management roles
focusing on marketing
and sales, while also gain-
ing experience in human
resources and the projects
business. Following an
assessment of more than
100 applicants for the job
(including both internal
and external applicants)
Kailash Desai, Sr. Vice
President-Sales was final-
ly selected and appointed
by the Endress+Hauser
Group Executive Board.
Kailash Desai complet-
EXPRESS WATER
EXCLUSIVE
Express Water: What are
your short-term and long-
term goals for Endress+
Hauser India, as its new
COO?
Mr. Desai: We will be cali-
brating a new technology
at the plant under which
new products related to
Flow, Level, Pressure and
Temperature products will
be introduced to mitigate
the requirements across
India. This will eventually
lead to increase in capaci-
ties of the plant in
Aurangabad as well as our
increased presence in all
the sales offices across
the length and breadth of
the country. Our focus
market expansions will be
in the North Eastern
region of India, South India
(Bangalore and
Hyderabad) and North
Kailash Desai
ed his studies with a
Bachelor of Engineering
(Instrumentation) and
received a post graduate
degree in Marketing
Management. Having
gained experience at
Pepperl+Fuchs and
Emerson Process
Management in India, he
then joined Endress+
Hauser based at
Aurangabad as Marketing
Director-Southeast Asia in
October 2003, where he
was in-charge of product
marketing for India and
Southeast Asia for five
India (Delhi and
Chandigarh). Our existing
work experience in water
and energy management
will allow us to work seam-
lessly with civic bodies to
make Smart City projects
more efficient. We are also
tapping other key-sectors
like F&B, Pharma, and Oil
& Gas to name a few. We
already have around 6,000
patents and shall get few
more added to the list as
we strongly believe in pro-
viding innovative product
line to Indian market which
is the key differentiator in
our line of services.
Endress+ Hauser in the
year 2015 alone got 270
new patent applications
which in itself is a new
record - our own patent
department in the USA
protects new technologies
abroad.
Express Water: What will
be your biggest challenge
years. Later in October
2008, he was transferred
to Endress+Hauser (I) Pvt.
Ltd. and was based out of
Mumbai as Head of
Projects and then was
smoved to the senior level
as Vice President-
Marketing until July 2014.
Vivian Alfred, VP,
Human Resources says,
“This internal succession
plan clearly elucidates the
top management’s com-
mitment on engaging,
developing and growing
key potential talent within
the organization pipeline.”
and opportunities during
2017-18?
Mr. Desai: It has been two
decades that we are pres-
ent in the India market, the
scale of activity has
increased dramatically
and it was clear to the
quality pundits that
automation is a far better
choice in terms of quality,
productivity, efficiency
and standardization.
Endress+Hauser is looking
to double its India revenue
to Rs. 800 crore by 2021,
through Smart Cities relat-
ed work. The government
is upgrading cities for
which they require world
class automation systems
that can be easily integrat-
ed with the existing tech-
nology format. We are con-
stantly moving towards
the direction of ‘innova-
tion’ and believe in deliver-
ing the best as per the
demands of the Indian
market.
December, 2017 19
 PRODUCTS
Danfoss
Danfoss has launched a new
generation of popular iSave
21 ERD for smaller SWRO
plants. Improved reliability,
design flexibility and high
efficiency are some of the
features of new iSave 21
Plus. In response to the ever
growing demand for energy
savings in smaller SWRO
plants, Danfoss has devel-
oped next generation iSave
21 energy recovery device
for onshore and offshore
applications. The highly effi-
cient iSave 21 Plus saves up
to 60% on energy bill and is
easily built into existing
SWRO solutions to obtain
savings right away.
Flowrox Oy
Flowrox is introducing
Packaged Pumping
Systems™, an engineered
pump package equipped
with simple site connec-
tions, manufacturer recom-
mended auxiliaries, and
piping arrangement to
meet the needs of demand-
ing flow control applica-
tions in variety of indus-
tries. They are an answer to
industry demand for faster,
simpler and safer installa-
tions. They guarantee accu-
rate and repeatable flow
while reducing mainte-
nance time and cost. Onsite
20 December, 2017
and operational safety is
increased through integrat-
ed containment optimal
e.g. for aggressive chemical
applications.
GF Piping Systems
ELGEF Plus branch saddle
system Topload for large
dimensions up to 2000mm
by GF Piping Systems now
offers an even safer installa-
tion. The integrated pres-
sure testing connection for
outlet dimensions d160 and
225 mm offers possibility to
perform a pressure test of
branch saddle before tap-
ping of main line and there-
fore a safe and cost effec-
tive installation. GF has
added the feature of inte-
grated pressure testing
interface to its Topload
branch saddle system for
large dimensions with out-
let dimension d160 & 225
mm.
Grundfos Pumps India
Grundfos India has
launched its new range of
Hydro MPC Pumps with
IE5 Motor. The Grundfos
Hydro MPC booster sys-
tems are of very high stan-
dards and combining this
with the IE5 motor, which is
integrated with a frequency
converter, connects accu-
mulated pump experience
of Grundfos into dedicated
control software. This com-
bination of pump and cus-
tomizable software opti-
mizes system’s perform-
VSX - Vogel Software GmbH
The brand-new software Spaix 5 devel-
oped by VSX for selection and configura-
tion of centrifugal pumps is now available.
ance for any load point,
delivering an unsurpassed
reduction of energy con-
sumption. IE5 Motor helps
in energy conservation of
up to 7% and a reduction in
the payback time of these
controlled pumps.
HWM - Halma
HWM has launched its
GPRS-based COMLog
range of AMR products,
along with a range of radio
logging devices. COMLog
offers businesses, asset
managers and service
providers a cost-effective
way to manage water and
energy consumption,
reduce costs and cut car-
bon emissions. The logger
uses latest integral GPRS
technology to provide rapid
data transmission at low
cost. Featuring a tough ABS
plastic enclosure, COMLog
is fully sealed and IP68-
rated.
Ion Exchange (India)
Ion Exchange has intro-
duced Zero B Auto Soft
water softeners. An auto-
matic softener valve, a spe-
cial softener resin, a media
holding vessel and a salt
holding tank are key com-
ponents of this softener.
In addition to functional enhancements,
new version particularly shines when it
comes to newly designed user interface,
its intuitive operating concept as well as
increased performance. The software
solution can be easily integrated into an
existing IT environment by using special
interfaces. This allows application to be
embedded in an existing environment in
order to link the Spaix data with cus-
tomer- and sales-specific data.
treatment technology, help-
ing system designers bring
their water treatment foot-
print closer to zero liquid dis-
charge (ZLD) or minimum
liquid discharge (MLD)
goals. The CCRO process
now available for modeling in
LewaPlus offers recovery
rates of up to 98%. The new
software module was devel-
While installing and using, oped cooperatively by
automatic softener equip- LANXESS Sybron Chemicals
ment complements well and Desalitech, Inc.
with existing plumbing and
electrical setup of user. It
can be used in water treat- Xylem
ment in housing societies, Xylem has unveiled new
hotels, shopping malls, and series of smart dewatering
corporate parks, water pumps under its Godwin
treatment for laundries in brand. With advanced levels
hotels and hospitals, pre- of monitoring and control,
treatment for RO plants and
water treatment for boiler
feed and cooling towers.
LANXESS
LANXESS has announced a
significant addition to its
LewaPlus Software suite
of reverse osmosis (RO)
and ion exchange (IX) sys- and efficiency, Godwin
NC150S Dri-Prime Pump
is the first in new Godwin S
Series. The NC150S fea-
tures Godwin Field Smart
Technology (FST), the first-
in-industry telemetry and
wireless technology that
provides smart remote
monitoring and control of
tem dimensioning capabili- pump from any smart-
ties. The new module pro- phone, tablet or desktop
vides system modeling with computer. Cellular and
Desalitech’s Closed Circuit satellite connectivity and
Reverse Osmosis (CCRO) GPS, enables tracking,
technology and enables monitoring and control of
dimensioning of RO systems pump in real-time, wherever
using latest available water it is located.
EXPRESS WATER
 COVER STORY WATER LEADERS

WATER LEADERS
Leaders from water community share their thoughts on the challenges water
sector is facing and chalk out their roadmap for all the stakeholders.

EXPRESS WATER December, 2017 21

COVER STORY

Let Us Fill the Cup that

can Quench By
GURUDEVSRI SRI
RAVI SHANKAR
FOUNDER,
THE ARTOFLIVING
For people,
water is God and
there is no
divinity without
water. It is
imperative that
we protect and
maintain natural
sources of water
such as ponds,
lakes and rivers.

22 December, 2017 EXPRESS WATER


TO SAY THAT there is a
water crisis in the world
today is to grossly under-
state a looming global
catastrophe. Earlier, the
world used to discuss the
global water crisis in terms
of access to drinking water.
Today, it’s no more about
just drinking water. With
drought in water-rich coun-
tries, water rationing in
developed cities, flooding in
unlikely places and fre-
quent hurricanes, the glob-
al water crisis is no more
confined to just scarcity.
The situation isn’t any
better in India. A growing
population, rapid urbaniza-
tion and industrialization,
with mismanagement of
resources and a lifestyle
that requires significantly
more water are leading the
country towards a water
disaster. Over 54 percent of
the country is under high
River Terna in Maharashtra, Once Parched and Dry, Successfully Rejuvenated by the Art of Living
EXPRESS WATER
water stress and most of
our water bodies are either
drying up or are grossly
polluted. Add to it, the crisis
of depleting groundwater.
More than half of India's
groundwater wells are dry-
ing up while over 60 per-
cent of irrigated agriculture
and 85 percent of domestic
use are dependent on it.
Also, India’s groundwater is
being progressively con-
taminated owing to a lack
of proper waste treatment
system and rising use of
hazardous pesticides and
fertilizers.
The good news is that
practical and effective ways
of solving the huge problem
plaguing the country aren’t
very hard to find. We just to
need to look at the problem
in a holistic way. In the
summer of 2016, I visited
Latur in Maharashtra. It
was the fourth consecutive
year of failed monsoon and
the whole landscape was
parched. Everywhere in the
city, one could witness
water tankers sent in by the
state government and vari-
ous civil society organiza-
tions. Special trains were
made to run to bring in
water from as far as
Rajasthan. Fearing vio-
lence, the district adminis-
tration of Latur district
imposed prohibitory orders
on gatherings of more than
five people around storage
tanks.
It was then our volun-
teers decided to initiate the
project of reviving the
Manjara river. The volun-
teers, through their hard
work and collaborative
efforts, brought together
local villagers, civil soci-
eties, local government,
corporate agencies and
technical experts to exam-
WATER LEADERS
ine the situation, create a
holistic scientific plan and
then undertake immediate
action.
Working day and night,
the diverse group of volun-
teers accomplished the
task, which would have nor-
mally taken over nine
months, in just three
months. Thanks to the proj-
ect, the area received
record rainfall and there
was water in the River
Manjara after five long
years. Today, even fish have
returned to the once dry
river. With support from
community, donors and the
local government a forest
of native trees such as
Banyan, Peepal, Neem,
Mango, Jamun and
Jackfruit is being created
along the banks of the river.
Since 2013, The Art of
Living is actively engaged in
reviving thousands of water
bodies and drying rivers
across India. Thirty-three
rivers in Karnataka,
Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu
and Kerala are being rejuve-
nated with support from
scientists, civil society, cor-
porates and the govern-
ment.
These efforts have start-
ed showing highly encour-
aging results. Communities
in these regions have wit-
nessed significant improve-
ments in groundwater lev-
els. Wells, which were dry
for many years, are now
filled with water, and farm-
ers who were facing low
yields and contemplating
suicides are now more con-
fident of a better life with
rising income levels. In
some areas womenfolk no
longer have to walk long
distances to fetch potable
water.
Systematic and scientif-
December, 2017 23
 COVER STORY
Dr. Lingaraju, National Director of Art of Living's River Rejuvenation Projects Educating Local Villagers About River Rejuvenation
ic plans were drawn up to
rejuvenate the rivers. Our
strategic multi-dimensional
approach includes building
recharge structures, under-
taking extensive afforesta-
tion focusing on native
species, and training the
local farmers on sustain-
able agriculture. A team of
geologists, hydro-geolo-
gists, environmentalists,
remote sensing experts
and agriculturists is work-
ing alongside community
leaders from rural parts to
make clean water available
and make the rivers
perennial.
Local communities are
getting increasingly aware
of this challenge and adopt-
ing ways to wisely use
water and undertake water-
efficient farming practices.
Energizing, empowering
programs to build youth
and community leadership
stand at the core of these
efforts and is one of the
keys to the amazing results
we are witnessing at the
grassroots.
Water is the very basis of
life. Nearly, 70% of our
body is made up of the
24 December, 2017
water element. Water is
present everywhere. You
find it when you dig deep
into the earth and also as
clouds up in the sky. It is
also present in the atmos-
phere as vapour. We cannot
imagine a world bereft of
water. There is a saying in
Sanskrit - “For people,
water is God and there is no
divinity without water”. It is
imperative that we protect
and maintain natural
sources of water such as
ponds, lakes and rivers.
In ancient civilizations
across the world, it has
been a tradition to maintain
and revere water bodies,
especially in this country.
Earlier, a king's greatness
was often measured in
terms of the number of
ponds he built. Till the
recent past, India had elab-
orate systems to manage
its water resources. In
South India, every village
would have an intercon-
nected series of irrigation
tanks that would store
water and recharge the
water table. Each temple
would inevitably have a
pond, which in times of
drought would act as the
source of drinking water.
This whole system was
developed by the local
rulers, and was owned and
maintained by the local
communities.
Today, this feeling of
ownership of natural
resources has ceased to
exist. We need to restore
this sense of belongingness
with nature. It is important
to make sure that our rivers
are kept clean. We must
refrain from throwing
things into the river in the
name of religion. We must
avoid all rituals that pollute
our environment.
We need to make conser-
vation of nature a national
movement and revival of
rivers to become a national
priority. It’s heartening that
the government is undertak-
ing many efforts and devis-
ing new policies to revive the
rivers. One of these plans
includes interlinking the
rivers across the country.
While there are many advan-
tages of interlinking rivers,
such as better management
of river waters and avoiding
floods, one of the disadvan-
tages is that sewage, indus-
trial waste and other pollu-
tants dumped in one river
can travel to all the other
rivers as well. So before link-
ing rivers, water should be
tested for pollution and care
should be taken that no
waste is dumped and no
drainage is let into these
rivers.
Over the last few years
the central government has
also laid special emphasis
on natural resource man-
agement under MGNREGA.
The Prime Minister himself
has been driving the
Namami Gange project to
revive the river Ganges.
However, projects like the
Namami Gange or commu-
nity driven schemes like
MGNREGA will be success-
ful only if other stakehold-
ers join in. In Karnataka and
Tamil Nadu we have suc-
cessfully supported the
government in community
building and such projects
have provided employment
to over 30,000 people.
Similarly, many state
governments are working
to undertake extensive
afforestation initiatives.
While it is beneficial to
plant trees in the catch-
ment of the rivers, the right
and water-friendly plants
need to be chosen. Else it
could backfire as it hap-
pened with the case of
massive acacia plantation
across India. Though aca-
cia, which is not a tree of
this land, grows fast and
gives quick green cover, the
tree absorbs a lot of water.
Soon after planting these
trees, it was found that the
groundwater was getting
depleted.
What we need is a nation-
al water management agen-
da that is scientific and
holistic in its outlook. Civil
society, corporates, scien-
tists, academicians, artists,
students, farmers, NGOs
and each and every one us
will have to become a part of
the agenda. The biggest pol-
lutant in the environment is
man's greed. The feverish-
ness for petty gains blinds
us to the reality that this
whole earth is one organism
and the rivers are its life-
lines. Our lives can only
flourish when these lifelines
are healthy.
EXPRESS WATER
COVER STORY

Evolving Purposes of
Hydraulic Modeling in
the Water Sector in India
By
PERRINE PARROD
SENIOR PRODUCT
MARKETING MANAGER,
BENTLEYSYSTEMS
The key
challenge is to
supply enough
clean water to
the ever-growing
population in a
reliable and
continuous way.
This can only be
delivered with
adequate water
infrastructure
that is reliable,
efficient, and
sustainable.

26 December, 2017 EXPRESS WATER


INDIA IS NOT running out
of water - the key challenge
is to supply enough clean
water to the ever-growing
population in a reliable and
continuous way. Although
there has been a 24 percent
increase in improved water
source, or the percentage
of a population with water
access, since the 1990s,
this data does not test
whether the water is safe
[source: WHO/UNICEF
Joint Monitoring
Programme (JMP) for
Water Supply and
Sanitation]. This can only
be delivered with adequate
water infrastructure that is
reliable, efficient, and sus-
tainable.
Existing Urban Areas: Un-
reliable Water Supply
Intermittent water sys-
tems often lead to health
issues, because during
non-supply hours, dirty
water can enter the empty
pipes, highly increasing the
risk of contracting diseases
from contaminated water.
Many organizations are
using hydraulic modeling to
transform intermittent sys-
tems into continuous sys-
tems. In the state of
Maharashtra, Maharashtra
Jeevan Pradhikaran used
Bentley’s WaterGEMS soft-
ware to improve various
water systems across the
state, transforming them to
24x7 systems. Using
WaterGEMS, the engineers
evaluated the existing
water system, which
enabled them to under-
stand the current water
network behaviour and
assess its response to pro-
posed changes, from pipe
replacement and water sys-
tem expansion to opera-
tional aspects such as
water loss and energy
usage reductions.
The city of Agra in Uttar
Pradesh had an intermit-
tent water supply, with
pumping stations operat-
ing a few hours, twice a day.
The Agra Water Supply
Project will deliver a contin-
EXPRESS WATER
NJS Project: Location of Mains to Rehabilitate
uous supply of treated
water. Undertaken by NJS
Engineers for Uttar
Pradesh Jal Nigam, the
project includes construc-
tion of a 144 million-liter-
per-day water treatment
plant, sedimentation tank,
and 130-kilometer trans-
mission pipeline.
Rehabilitation and repair of
two water treatment plants,
overhead tanks, clear water
reservoirs, and distribution
networks were also
planned. WaterGEMS was
used to develop a hydraulic
model for existing, interme-
diate, and future water sup-
ply zones. The model was
used to evaluate network
flow, capacity, and pres-
sure; plan system rehabili-
tation, improvement, and
expansion; monitor non-
revenue water; and develop
efficient operational strate-
gies.
Nagpur Municipal
Corporation in
Maharashtra provides
intermittent water supply
service to 3,50,000 houses
via about 3,500 kilometers
of pipeline, five treatment
plants, and 68 elevated
storage tanks. To reach the
goal of 24x7 water supply,
the municipality embarked
on a public-private project
comprising a five-year
design and execution phase
and a 25-year operation
and maintenance phase.
Carried out by Orange City
Water India, the INR 3.7 bil-
lion project had to contend
with the limited capacity in
the available elevated stor-
age tanks. WaterGEMS was
integrated with AutoCAD
and ArcGIS to provide up-
to-date data for citywide
hydraulic modeling. The
Bentley software allowed
the team to analyze various
scenarios, including phas-
ing in intermediate goals
for equitable supply until
continuous water supply
can be achieved.
New Urban Areas: Fast
Growing Population
With urbanization hap-
pening at a fast rate in
India, jumping 2.63 percent
from 2001 to 2011, accord-
ing to India’s census, ade-
quate water infrastructure
must keep up with the new
development.
Navi Mumbai Municipal
Corporation (NMMC) faced
an ongoing challenge in ful-
filling the vision for a twin
city intended to alleviate
congestion in Mumbai.
Developed in the 1970s
with 20 self-contained
WATER LEADERS
nodes for 1,00,000 people
each, Navi Mumbai was
hailed as a model planned
city.
However, rapid migra-
tion and unsustainable
population growth led to
deteriorating public servic-
es and infrastructure in the
344-square-kilometer area.
NMMC undertook a USD
411 million planning initia-
tive to improve and aug-
ment the city infrastructure
and provide a sustainable
environment for its 2.8 mil-
lion citizens. The integrated
approach included a devel-
opment plan with opti-
mized lifecycle costs.
Bentley software products
enabled planning for trans-
portation, water supply,
sewerage, solid waste man-
agement, and stormwater
system improvements:
• The base map with
existing assets and
utilities was prepared
in MicroStation.
• WaterGEMS, HAM-
MER, and SewerCAD
were used for project
design and estimation.
Overall, this integrated
approach resulted in effi-
cient planning and execu-
tion of the project, and the
results were visible in
Frischmann Prabhu Project: Pushpak Model Overview
increased tax revenue,
reduction in operation and
maintenance costs for the
utilities, better transport
planning, reduced non-rev-
enue water, and improved
citizen satisfaction.
Patterned after Dubai’s
Media City and Qatar’s
Energy City, the INR 15 bil-
lion mixed-used develop-
ment called Mega City in
Panvel, will create a sus-
tainable satellite township
on 1,400 acres.
Frischmann Prabhu was
retained to plan and design
the water supply system to
serve a population of about
450,000. WaterGEMS was
used to perform hydraulic
modeling of scenarios
involving various system
constraints and to deter-
mine pipe diameters for dif-
ferent pump hours and
water tank levels.
The water supply
scheme sources water
from a government authori-
ty pipeline, transports the
water to a master balance
reservoir, and pumps the
water to three elevated
ground service reservoirs
at different elevations and
distances from the master
balance reservoir.
As land is acquired for
the development of Navi
Mumbai International
Airport in Maharashtra,
landowners are being
offered developed parcels
on a 224-hectare section
adjacent to National
Highway 4-B. City and
Industrial Development
Corporation (CIDCO)
designed the INR 120 mil-
lion water supply network
for the area, which is part of
the Pushpak Node.
December, 2017 27
 COVER STORY
Selecting the correct
pipeline diameter will help
to prevent network head
loss under various operat-
ing conditions. CIDCO gen-
erated scenarios in
WaterGEMS, which helped
the team to plan the net-
work in less time.
Upon completion in
2019, the Pushpak Node
will be an affordable resi-
dential hub in a desirable
location near the airport.
Rural Areas: Lack of Ac-
cess to Potable Water
Despite India’s fast
urbanization, 67 percent of
the population lives rurally
and only 16 percent of
households have piped
water.
The Government of
India’s Department of
Drinking Water and
Sanitation has started to
meet this challenge
28 December, 2017
through the National Rural
Drinking Water Programme
(NRDWP). Its Strategic
Plan for Rural Drinking
Water, 2011-2022, helps
operationalize the NRDWP,
striving to provide 90 per-
cent of rural homes with
piped water and 80 percent
with household taps by
2022. Consequently, it is
not surprising that many
projects are erecting a nec-
essary water infrastructure
to improve rural life.
An example of similar
project is the Medchal
Distribution Network proj-
ect that will provide safe
drinking water for 104 vil-
lages in Medchal, a north-
ern suburb of Hyderabad,
Telangana.
The water distribution
network which is being con-
structed will comprise 264
kilometers of pipeline and
three break pressure tanks.
Telangana Rural Water ed the project under a this project, which called
Supply and Sanitation is Government of Tamil Nadu for a water supply network
responsible for conceptual- mandate to provide water that covers a 100-kilometer
ization, design, construc- supply and sewerage facili- area. WaterGEMS not only
tion, and maintenance of ties in the state. helped ensure the accuracy
the entire network. TWAD Board used of the design but also saved
WaterGEMS helped the WaterGEMS extensively up to 100 resource hours in
company design the net- during the design phase of design time.
work quickly, shortening
the time leading up to con-
struction. Bentley software
helped the project team
evaluate various scenarios
and choose the optimum
design. The models also
reduced the time required
for approvals by the
Government of Telangana.
Fifteen villages in
Sivaganga District will have
a safe supply of drinking
water for the first time
when construction of the
INR 2 billion water supply
network is complete.
Tamil Nadu Water
Supply and Drainage Board
(TWAD Board) implement- TWAD Project: Model of the Sivaganga District Water Network
EXPRESS WATER
COVER STORY

Need to Unlock
Wastewater’s PotentialBy
RAJIVMENON
MANAGING DIRECTOR,
BLACK & VEATCH INDIA
The world over,
water and
wastewater have
historically been
treated - literally
and conceptually
- separately.
India is no
exception.We
need to take the
waste out of
wastewater, in
every sense, and
recognize
wastewater for
the resource it is.

30 December, 2017 EXPRESS WATER


INDIA'S ALL WATER
RESOURCES are under
pressure. Urbanization,
changing rainfall patterns
and increased affluence –
water use rises with wealth
– are all affecting the bal-
ance between supply and
demand. Recent media
reports suggest that an
investment of USD 291 bil-
lion is needed to ensure
supplies.
There is no silver bullet
to fix this. Anyone propos-
ing simplistic answers has
not understood the com-
plexity of the problem.
There is, however, an over-
arching change which – if
adopted – will help us take
some significant steps for-
ward.
The world over, water
and wastewater have his-
torically been treated – lit-
erally and conceptually –
separately. India is no
exception. This needs to
change. We need to take
the waste out of waste-
water – in every sense –
and recognize wastewater
Advanced Digestion Allows Wastewater Treatment to Generate Power
EXPRESS WATER
for the resource it is.
With advanced treat-
ment, wastewater becomes
a source of water for
potable and non-potable
use. Wastewater recycling
is being adopted in areas
traditionally seen as water
scarce: Australia, the
Southwestern United
States; and also in less
obvious countries such as
the UK and Singapore.
Although it has abundant
rainfall, Singapore has a
small landmass compared
to its population. This
affects the ability to
impound surface water, so
water recycling provides an
effective buffer for tradi-
tional supplies. The island
state is leading the way in
water recycling strategy
and technology. The
NEWater programme cur-
rently meets circa 30 per-
cent of Singapore's water
needs, this is set to rise to
40 percent by 2020.
With reservations,
understandable but over-
stated, regarding the use of
recycled water for potable
applications; using treated
wastewater for non-potable
applications is a good way
of introducing the concept
of reuse.
The government is cur-
rently seeking to stimulate
this by creating a market
for treated wastewater.
Developments include a
memorandum of under-
standing with the Ministry
of Railways to adopt reused
water for cleaning rolling
stock and other non-
potable uses. In addition, it
is now mandatory for
power plants to buy treated
wastewater from sewage
treatment plants, where the
two plants are within a 50-
kilometre radius of each
other. This is significant
when we consider that, typ-
ically, 2,650 litres of water
per MegaWatt hours
(MWh) are needed for coal
fired generation; and that
coal accounts for more
than 75 percent of India's
energy mix.
This brings us to the
WATER LEADERS
nexus of water and energy,
and another reason to stop
viewing wastewater as
waste, but instead as a
resource. Wastewater is an
abundant source of energy.
Advanced digestion of
sewage increases the
amount of bio gas pro-
duced as a by-product of
the treatment process. The
biogas can be used as fuel
for combined heat and
power engines (CHP) - the
energy from which can be
used in the treatment
process or exported to local
power grids. At a time when
the government is keen to
cut pollution from thermal
power stations, and
improve energy security by
reducing oil imports, we
welcome the generation of
energy from biogas as a
component of many new
wastewater treatment proj-
ects under construction or
being tendered in India.
Performance of the lat-
est generation of CHP sys-
tems is being enhanced
significantly with the use of
smart technology. The CHP
component of our
ASSET360 data analytics
tool extracts and displays
important system perform-
ance information and
directs action to help oper-
ators make timely and
accurate decisions about
their CHP systems.
This type of technology
allows, for instance, the
creation of automatic and
custom user-defined
charts to give instant
access to real-time and his-
torical performance. Such
tools also convey system
economics relative to finan-
cial goals, and allow users
to visualize real-time per-
formance of the digestion
process relative to energy
production.
Smart analytics also
help operators better man-
age challenges. The impact
of potential problems can
be calculated, allowing pri-
orities to be established
and a hierarchy of interven-
tions identified. This facili-
tates transparent discus-
December, 2017 31
 COVER STORY
Recycling Turns Sewage from Waste to Water Resource
sion between engineering,
operations, and mainte-
nance staff, and enables
action planning.
Environmental protec-
tion is another area in
which wastewater should
be seen as a resource.
Treating wastewater to sec-
ondary standards prior to
discharge to the environ-
ment has multiple benefits.
In the first instance, such
treatment prevents pollu-
tants entering water bodies.
According to the Union
Water Resources Ministry,
70-75 percent of the pollu-
tion in Ganga is due to
municipal sewage, with the
rest coming from domestic
refuse, industrial effluent
and other sources.
Secondary treatment will
prevent municipal sewage,
and many types of industrial
effluent, from adversely
affecting the rivers, lakes or
steams into which treat-
ment works discharge,
thereby also preserving the
aquatic life/ natural her-
itage including the unique
dolphins of Ganga.
By returning processed
water to the environment,
wastewater treatment also
increases flows in the water
body, thereby reducing the
concentration of existing
32 December, 2017
pollutants, and increasing
the amount of water avail-
able for abstraction, a prob-
lem common to many
perennial rivers in India.
This is vital when so many
surface water bodies expe-
rience periods when there
is insufficient volume to
meet the needs of commu-
nities, agriculture and
industry.
With additional steps,
the secondary wastewater
treatment can also unlock
wastewater’s potential as a
nutrient source, in particu-
lar phosphates, for use in
fertilizer. This gives farmers
a renewable alternative to
untreated sewage fertilizer
which, during heavy rain,
will pollute run-off flowing
into water bodies. High
concentrations of any fertil-
izer in run-off can affect
water quality; but the point
here is that we need to
think of wastewater treat-
ment works as resource
recovery plants, not cen-
tres for waste disposal. This
is where the challenge
becomes opportunity.
While these sorts of proj-
ects and programmes are
not cheap, they represent a
great return on investment
for communities, industry
and the environment. We
see this being realized by
government in the form of
initiatives such as Namami
Gange which - as we have
seen recently in successful
bids for wastewater treat-
ment projects in Varanasi
and Haridwar - is encourag-
ing innovative hybrid public
-private partnership ten-
ders.
Smart tools to gather
and analyse data from
treatment plant will help
ensure our investments are
targeted efficiently. More
data, better data and -
Smart Metering Shows Where and When a Network is Losing Water
most importantly - better
data analysis, provide the
insights to ensure that
plant is operating at opti-
mum efficiency. For exam-
ple our data analytics tools
allow asset performance
data to be combined with
external data such as ener-
gy tariff information, to
identify the lowest cost of
operation.
In addition, the tool is
able to predict failure, by
identifying an underper-
forming pump, for example,
enabling the preventative
maintenance to be under-
taken - at a time which min-
imizes services disruption.
A tool to analyse multiple
data points from waste-
water pumping stations is
able to accurately predict
the risk of pollution inci-
dents. This use of smart
technology is at the heart
of risk-based asset man-
agement programmes; and
central to evidence based
decisions for future invest-
ment plans.
Smart technology also
has a role in preserving
strained water resources.
Currently 40-50 percent of
the water entering India’s
distribution networks is
lost. This is due largely to
leakage and illegal connec-
tions. As well as wasting a
precious resource these
losses are also non-revenue
water, for which the utility is
unable to recover the costs
of treatment and supply.
Smart metering is a high-
ly successfully way of identi-
fying accurately how much
water is being lost, where
leaks are occurring, and the
location of unauthorized
connections to the distribu-
tion network. This informa-
tion helps preserve a
stressed natural resource
and increase the income
available to invest in water
infrastructure.
EXPRESS WATER
 COVER STORY

Revival of CommunityWater
Bodies for Sustained Future
By
M.P.VASIMALAI
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
DHAN FOUNDATION
In many ways, tanks are very similar
to endangered species.The
conditions are deteriorating year by
year, because of many factors and
reasons.
INDIA, WITH ITS 17 per-
cent of global population
and with only 4 percent of
fresh water resources is
waging a fierce battle on
meeting continuously
increasing water demand
with available water supply.
The importance of water
conservation by every citi-
zen and the State is very
vital as of now, the effects
of climate change, poor
governance, lack of com-
munity ownership and par-
ticipation, either limited or
no plans on river basin spe-
cific, the “bottom-up
approach” make the
demand on water a finite
source more challenging. It
is also vivid from
Sustainable Development
Goal 6 which relates water
and improved sanitation,
reducing water pollution,
improving water demand
management and making
sustained water use. From
grassroots’ experience
over the two and half
decade working on improv-
ing livelihoods of small and
marginal farmers, women
and landless across 20
river basins in six states in
India, the insights and
learning on water com-
mons, the readers would
get benefitted more.
Tank is a Micro-Basin
India has many histori-
cal evidences on irrigation
structures, systems and
management, almost from
8th century AD onwards.
They captured India’s long
history of human interven-
tions in the management of
village water bodies. One
such intervention is an irri-
gation tank. A tank is a sim-
ple earthen banked rainwa-
ter harvesting and storage
structure, designed by the
early settlers using their
indigenous wisdom and
constructed with the gen-
erous support of native
rulers and chieftains. The
topography of Deccan
Plateau provided a good
base for locating these
innovative water bodies.
Irrigation tanks are simple
technological innovations
developed by those people
to accommodate their pri-
mary needs and adapted to
the distinctive Indian cli-
mate – intense monsoons
followed by protracted
droughts.
“Tanks need to be
thought of in terms of a
wide complex of natural
resources, physical facili-
ties, land use patterns and
managerial institutions.
The tank is not simply an
irrigation system that
starts from the reservoir
down. It is also a collection
point for run-off from the
catchment area, pond for
pisciculture, source of silt
for fertilization and con-
struction material, a
recharge structure for local
groundwater, a location for
cultivation on common
lands, a source of drinking
water for livestock, and
finally, an irrigation system
for crops. To help keep in
mind this multiplicity of
uses which spans the
administrative ambit of
several government
departments, it is useful to
think of tank complexes as
basins rather than tanks,
which too often connote
only the direct surface irri-
gation aspects of these
systems.”
Even now, the tanks in
South India and Ahar-Pyne
System in Magadh region
have very high relevance in
practicing the Integrated
Water Resources
Management (IWRM). As
per minor irrigation census
(1994), there exist
5,00,000 irrigation tanks in
the country; of which
1,50,000 tanks are located
in the Deccan Plateau cov-
ered by South Indian
States. Similarly, there are
over 20,000 Ahar-Pyne
System linking rivers in
South Bihar and parts of
Jharkhand in Ganga Basin.
These irrigation tanks are
situated in sequential
chains (cascades) with the
slope mildly dipping
towards the Southern
coastal plains in the
Deccan Plateau. As a
result, the rainfall runoff
flowing from a sub basin
and/ or watershed is effec-
tively impounded and har-
nessed for multiple uses
with irrigation being the
major user.
Conserve Tanks for Future
Humanity
In many ways, tanks are
very similar to endangered
species. The conditions are
deteriorating year by year,
because of many factors
and reasons. The decline of
tank irrigation since 1960s
from 35% of Net Irrigated
Area to 20% of Net
Irrigated Area, decline of

34 December, 2017 EXPRESS WATER


Ahar-Pyne system led to
reduction of Net Irrigated
Area over 20% and eco-
nomical assessment of
erstwhile planning com-
mission about INR 500
Million revenue loss in lieu
of decline of area under
production in tank com-
mand showed the structur-
al deficiencies and indiffer-
ent maintenance by all con-
cerned.
One could notice under
the present policy of the
government, some thrust
is being given to conserva-
tion of irrigation tanks/
Ahar-Pyne systems and for
their sustainable use. From
introduction of Mahatma
Gandhi National Rural
Employment Generation
Act, the asset building in
rural area by implementing
deepening works in rural
area on water bodies
including tanks,” Mission
Kakhatiya” of Telangana
G o v e r n m e n t ,” K u d i
Maramathu scheme” in
Tamil Nadu State, World
Bank aided Community
Tank Improvement
Projects in Southern states
of India brings out the good
policy climate; but the pro-
grammes and schemes fail
miserably in implementa-
tion mainly because of
absence of community
ownership and institutional
mechanisms, missing part-
nership with the non gov-
ernmental organizations in
the programmes.
Historically, desilting of
the tank bed has been an
activity undertaken by the
farmers for development
of agricultural lands
because of the nutritive
value of silt. Apart from the
others, the village commu-
nities have been using tank
silt for brick making and
house construction also.
With the advent of the
modern chemical fertiliz-
ers, because of their easy
availability and immediate
effect on the crops, farm-
ers have given up the
desilting activity. Presently
desilting has become a
EXPRESS WATER
rare event in the village
tanks.
Due to the
Tractorization in the vil-
lages, the bullocks and
carts have also vanished
from the scene, which ulti-
mately led to total stop-
page of desilting by the
farmers. The silt applica-
tion at the moment has
become another commer-
cial - paid up input by a
farmer undertaken
through tractor operators.
The volume of desilting
should be the volume of
additional storage required
to provide for two or three
additional irrigations for
the entire crop area and to
strength the tank bund to
the prescribed design
standard. Top soil with
nutrient content should be
allowed for farmers to take
and apply in their farm
without hurdles. Desilting
should be planned with
through the local farmers’
association and gram pan-
chayat and implemented
through them only as a
Demand Driven Program.
Conserve Tank Systems as
Living Heritage
We consider that the
neglect of tanks will
become a source of depri-
vation of all those benefits
accrued by the tanks quite
soon.
Sooner or later, the vil-
lage communities have to
address these issues also.
They will affect not only
the irrigation use but the
entire ecosystem and
agri-biodiversity as well.
The cost of redeeming
such a situation will be
great. In many ways, tanks
are in such a situation
which is very similar to the
endangered species of
and animals and birds. So,
to conserve these pre-
cious water bodies as a
national heritage and
declare them as living
eco-system, a long-term
sustainable mission
should get launched by
the state.
Tank Development and
Ahar-Pyne Development
as a Unique Mission
Around 20% of the area
under irrigation in south
India depends on tanks
directly. Ahar-Pynes in
Magadh region also func-
tion similar as that of tanks
in South India. Also, the
most part of well irrigation
depend upon the tanks as
important source of their
recharge. The surface
water bodies like tanks
become a must to the sur-
vival and very existence of
these wells in the tank sys-
tems of the South Indian
plateau regions which is
endowed with hard rock
geological formations. It is
proved beyond doubt that
the ground water in hard
rock areas is scarce, pre-
cious and costly and will be
extinct soon unless it is
recharged through the sur-
face water bodies such as
tanks. A comprehensive
and a time bound plan for
the development of tanks
therefore becomes an
imminent and immediate
task considering the
decline of tank systems in
most parts of south Indian
peninsula.
Revive Drinking Water
Ponds in the Coastal and
Ground Water Contami-
nated Area
In India, most of the
drinking water pro-
grammes are Ground water
based as all we know.
Fluoride and Arsenic are
the two main contaminants
in groundwater present
naturally in India, causing a
set of health symptoms
known commonly as
Fluorosis and Arsenicosis
respectively. More than 62
million people spread over
the 16 states of India,
namely Jammu & Kashmir,
Punjab, Haryana, Delhi,
Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan,
Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh,
Maharashtra, Karnataka,
Andhra Pradesh, Kerala,
Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Bihar,
Jharkhand and Assam are
WATER LEADERS
affected by fluoride
endemicity (Geological
Survey of India). The
ground water salinity is of
two types - coastal salinity
due to sea water ingress in
coastal area and Inland
salinity due to processes
other than the sea water
ingress. The occurrence of
inland salinity may be due
to over-exploitation of
ground water, characteris-
tics of aquifer or some
other reasons.
In the rural parts of
coastal districts drinking
water ponds, termed locally
as “ooranis” still continued
to be the primary and pre-
ferred source of drinking
and domestic water needs,
since these areas have no
rivers to supply drinking
water. Also, the ground
water is saline.
Traditionally, the Village
Assemblies built the oora-
nis, for many decades, oora-
nis have been neglected and
now they are in disrepair.
But the water supply sys-
tems (over-head tanks and
hand pumps) provided by
the Government agencies in
these areas are not suc-
cessful. Although the pro-
fessionals and Govt. agen-
cies have not accepted
ooranis as a safe source
with respect to the general
health standards, people
consider them the best
available source and they
have built immunity by
drinking the water from
Oorani. Domestic water
supply from the rehabilitat-
ed ooranis outscores the
other sources in taste,
access, adequacy, availabili-
ty and convenience. In order
to ensure clean drinking
water, the rehabilitation of
drinking water/ domestic
ooranis with the provision of
filtering mechanism is taken
up with peoples' participa-
tion would provide water
security for meeting drink-
ing and domestic needs.
Time for Taking up Promis-
ing Approaches
“Green River”, an emerg-
ing concept of ecological
restoration of rivers and
water basins in a decade’s
time frame would see vital
and resilient communities
in bio-diverse, well-func-
tioning eco-systems pro-
viding health livelihoods for
all living beings. To make
Green river in to reality, few
given pathways could be
highly important and rele-
vant for action.
• An integrated tank devel-
opment approach includ-
ing revival surface water
ponds in their vicinity
towards developing tank-
fed agriculture and compli-
menting clean drinking
water in a given area will be
more beneficial than a
compartmental approach.
This approach would mean
that tanks are considered
as resource complexes
which have feeder chan-
nels from their catch-
ments, tank structures
such as bunds, sluices &
weirs and surplus courses
draining excess water to
the downstream tanks and
tank command areas. All
these components should
be treated equally for any
development on tank com-
plexes.
• Also, developing/ reha-
bilitating a chain (cascade)
of tanks give higher bene-
fits and returns than reha-
bilitating an individual or
isolated tank. This cascade
approach becomes hydro-
logically more productive
by means of retaining and
saving more water, eco-
nomically more beneficial
by providing higher eco-
nomical returns through
improved production and
sociological benefits by
providing an opportunity
to several farmers’ associ-
ations to come together in
a given administrative
location for their manage-
ment.
• Renovate drinking water
ponds with fence around
by involving community in
the groundwater scarce
area and saline aquifer
area in the country.
December, 2017 35
COVER STORY

Water Conservation -
It’s Time to Save! By
KAILASH DESAI
CHIEFOPERATING
OFFICER,
ENDRESS+HAUSAR
INDIA
In India, cities
having
population of
one million
people require
210 liters/day
water per
capita, while
they receive a
supply of 25
liters/day per
capita owing to
water loss due
to leakage - of
which 35% is
even difficult to
track.

36 December, 2017 EXPRESS WATER


WATER IN INDIA is pro-
foundly interlinked with the
tradition of country having
social and economic under-
tones. Reckoned as second
most populated country in
the World with over 1.2 bil-
lion people, India’s natural
resources are under
tremendous pressure
“Water” being the most vital
amongst them. Increasing
population has decreased
the per capita water avail-
ability from 2,309 cu m in
1991 to 1,588 cu m is it
2010? If taken into account
the projection of population
growth by 2025 the per
capita water availability can
further decrease to 1,000
cu m leading to a situation
called water scarcity.
At present, India does
not fall under the category
of “water scarce” nation,
through it would be truly
stated as a “water stressed”
nation. Many towns and vil-
lages in various parts of the
country are fighting with
water stress, and ironically
those areas where water is
available, quality of water is
a serious concern.
The rapid growth of
Indian economy filled by
higher purchasing power,
life style changes and
increase in urban popula-
tion are increasing the chal-
lenges to the depleting
water resources. This situa-
tion is further aggravated
by unfriendly climatic con-
ditions like the rapid decline
in the Himalayan glaciers &
snow fields, increasing
drought condition and flood
condition spread across the
country.
As per report by
ASSOCHAM and Skymet
weather services, with
prominent upsurge in the
number of hot days and
day and night temperature,
India is drying out marked
by persistent moisture
shortfall condition inter-
preted into Latur like water
crisis, The report states
that nine states are reeling
under drought and it is also
reported that there is an
EXPRESS WATER
increase in the means
annual air temperature in
many regions of country.
So, what does this mean?
Will there, be a shortage of
water?
The Ministry of Urban
Development (MoUD) has
conducted a survey and
the findings are scary. It is
seen over the years that
most of the cities in India
do not have 24*7 water
supply and the coverage of
sanitation has increased
but resource sustainability
has weakened.
Non-Revenue Water (NRW)
Scenario
Non-Revenue Water
(NRW) - is defined as the
difference between the
amount of water put into
the distribution system and
the amount of water billed
to consumers. NRW is a
good indicator for water
utility performance, as high
levels of NRW typically indi-
cate a poorly managed
water utility. In addition,
published NRW data are
often problematic, suspi-
cious, inaccurate, or pro-
vide only partial informa-
tion. The causes of NRW,
such as leakage due to age-
ing pipes, theft through ille-
gal connection, and tam-
pering with meters, are
major impediment to effec-
tive use of water. The water
management skill sets
need to be upgraded in
India. Wastage of water at
various points can be
reduced as city develop-
ment and regulations
Endress+Hauser Installations of Flow Meter in Pune
department have not been
able to keep required pace
with population growth and
urbanization which has
resulted in increased
wastage of water, and this
has raised the demand for
better waste water man-
agement. Waste water
management today, is of
paramount importance.
Japan’s average nation-
wide NRW, at less than
10%, is remarkable low by
global standard which are
signs of prosperity. The
Japanese are meticulous in
completing their projected
work as they believe in
technology advancement
and diligent approach to
job. In our country, cities
having population of one
million people require 210
liters/day water per capita,
while they receive a supply
of 25 liters/day per capita -
owing to water loss due to
leakage of which 35%
sometimes is even difficult
to track. Successful utilities
actively address NRW by
controlling physical losses,
ensuring quality DMA
metering, customer meter
accuracy and making all
efforts to keep the number
of illegal connections nil.
Taking these measures can
boost revenue by increas-
ing the amount of water
that can be billed while
reducing wastage. This
increases profitability and
improves the return on
investment, which the utili-
ty can then reinvest
retained earnings and
improve its productivity.
WATER LEADERS
Targeting 24*7 Water
Supply
In the recent Union
Budget 2017-18 there were
various policy initiatives
introduced such as UDAY,
amendments in National
Electricity Act, new solar
RPO target for states, bio
fuel policy, small hydro pol-
icy, offshore wind policy,
and new hydrocarbon poli-
cy. These would in a way
help boost the ecosystem
and have the ability to
attract global investors to
India. On the other side we
regularly read about water
mismanagement and
clashes over water
resources between states, I
see then next wars, if it
happens will be fought for
the ‘water’. Reforms are
required and the focus
should be to reduce non-
revenue water, groundwa-
ter exploitation and steps
should be taken for waste
water controlling,
Recycling and Reuse of
Waste Water
There are cities which
are not serious on water
conservation/ manage-
ment which is resulting in
increase of water shortage.
Some of the recent initia-
tives by the Government
instilling hope are - 100
smart cities project, the
National Mission to clean
Ganga and the total sanita-
tion program.
The integrated Urban
Water Management
(IUWM) in 2015 created a
new agenda and approach
for efficient water manage-
ment in the country. The
best part of this initiative is
(it is not a perspective
model but process that
invites cities) to adjust
their current planning and
management practices,
technology advancement
for water management.
I, strongly believe that
the country’s engineering
technical community
needs to come together
and form a panel, stand
united in order to break
“silos” between old and
new technology, under-
stand the need of their
respective city and focus
on - reducing water
wastage and providing
standardised drinking
water to the citizen.
The natural water
resources, storm water/
rainwater catchment sys-
tem as a potential source
need to be conserved and
maintained aptly to take
care of future water
requirements. This is pos-
sible by introducing new
age technology which
would help conserve natu-
ral resources.
Today, the world is
keeping a close eye on
India as they would like to
see how it can translate
words into actions as well
accelerate the reform
momentum for more sus-
tainable and comprehen-
sive growth. Let us all
come together to build
green infrastructure for
our country, let us reduce,
recycle and reuse water.
December, 2017 37
COVER STORY

Water - Reflections By
EDDYMOORS
RECTOR,
IHE DELFTINSTITUTE
FOR WATER EDUCATION
Understanding
true value of
water requires
an integrated
approach, where
engineering
meets socio
economics and
then the
resulting
proposal/
evaluation
becomes much
more attractive
to investors,
both public and
private.

38 December, 2017 EXPRESS WATER


I ENTITLED MY recent
Inaugural Lecture as Rector
of IHE Delft, ‘Water –
Wrestling with Wicked
Problems’. A wicked prob-
lem refers to a complex
problem for which there is
no simple method or solu-
tion, and every attempt can
matter, because it affects
the things people depend
on.
We know that water is
life and so the first part of
this column looks at what is
at stake, particularly in
India, when it comes to
water problems. Then, on a
more positive note, I will
discuss the way forward
and in particular what IHE
Delft, as a UNESCO insti-
tute and part of the UN
Water Family, is contribut-
ing to achieving the SDGs,
including through our work
in India.
The first ‘pool’ of water is
surface water and how it is
affected by climate change
and the impact of mankind
on water quality. Changing
snow melt as well as rainfall
patterns are affecting the
location and timing of
water availability. This, in
combination with increas-
ing water demands for food
production and other activ-
ities, increases the pres-
sure on this scarce
resource. The scarcity is
further aggravated by the
declining quality of most
water bodies.
The second ‘pool’ is
groundwater and increas-
ingly the problems caused
by ingress of saline water.
Examples are the lowering
of the groundwater table in
large parts of India as well
as the decline in water pro-
ductivity of the springs in
the foothills of the
Himalayas. In coastal
areas, the increasing saline
water intrusion, due to a
combination of reduced
river discharge as well as
rising sea levels, is causing
serious problems, on top of
the already existing water
quality issues in, for exam-
ple, the back waters in
EXPRESS WATER
Kerala.
The third is new water.
“New” water refers to treat-
ed water, being either
saline water or wastewater.
It is a valuable source of
water in water scarce
areas, but it is not without
its problems, including
health. There are also envi-
ronmental issues related to
it, such as brine disposal,
which, among many other
water issues, we at IHE
Delft are working on.
Increasing water pro-
ductivity by technical solu-
tions such as drip irrigation
or reuse of water, is one
way to tackle the issue of
water scarcity. However,
acceptable sustainable
solutions are most likely to
be found in a more socio-
economic holistic
approach.
Preventing conflict and
transboundary water dis-
putes is of growing impor-
tance, as water becomes
ever scarcer. India is no
stranger to this subject,
particularly at local levels
(state and district). IHE
Delft runs Master’s courses
on this topic as well as
training diplomats and gov-
ernment officials on how to
negotiate equitable access,
with an optimum outcome
being a treaty between
involved parties.
Water has been taken
for granted for too long and
now this basic resource is
starting to be valued, as it
should. Understanding the
true value of water requires
an integrated approach,
where engineering meets
socio economics and then
the resulting proposal/
evaluation becomes much
more attractive to
investors, both public and
private.
The Way Forward
As an Institute, IHE Delft
has the mission “to con-
tribute to the education
and training of profession-
als, to expand the knowl-
edge base through
research and to build the
capacity of sector organiza-
tions, knowledge centres
and other institutions
active in the fields of water,
the environment and infra-
structure in developing
countries and countries in
transition”.
As part of this exercise,
the Institute educates and
informs decision-makers to
make better informed, sub-
stantiated decisions.
One discipline which is
experiencing rapid growth
is water accounting,
because decision-makers
need to have reliable, inde-
pendent and open access
data. Combining remote
sensing and in-situ data,
information is collected,
that can then be used for
monitoring purposes (e.g.
how a country or region is
progressing towards imple-
menting the water related
SDG) as well as water gov-
ernance and water alloca-
tion.
Another area of great
interest at IHE Delft, is sus-
tainability of water
resources. For example
what is the impact of
hydropower, itself an
attractive alternative to
fossil fuels, or other reser-
voirs on environmental
flow? The Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs)
also play a role. For exam-
ple, creating more water
storage facilities for irriga-
tion to achieve the food
related SDG may hamper
environmental flow which is
an integral part of the sus-
tainable water SDG. The
challenge is how to create
solutions without creating
wicked problems, or at
least minimizing them.
In India, to try to develop
solutions more quickly and
effectively, we are trying to
increase our collaboration
with government bodies,
other institutions, as well as
private companies. We are
currently in discussions to
open a Water Institute in
conjunction with a leading
university in India and we
are involved in a number of
WATER LEADERS
projects. These include:
Local Treatment of
Urban Sewage and
Streams for Healthy
Reuse: This project will
demonstrate a novel, holis-
tic (waste) water manage-
ment approach for the
recovery of water, energy
and nutrients from urban
wastewater. Innovative but
proven robust technolo-
gies, will be incorporated in
a modular pilot treatment
plant along the Barapullah
drain. LOTUS-HR will lead
to the development of reli-
able technologies, tools,
models and approaches for
local stakeholders,
enabling market develop-
ment for water reuse
strategies and solutions for
other Indian mega cities.
Water Accounting in Se-
lected Asian River Basins -
Pilot Studies in India:
Various national water
resources assessments
and plans are underway, or
have been completed
recently to reflect to sup-
port a year-round clean
and affordable water sup-
ply. The quality of these
water resources plans
depends on adequate
input data, which is not
always available. Water
accounting provides a
coherent and consistent
methodology that quanti-
fies hydrological process-
es, water storage, base
flow, and the distribution of
water to various compet-
ing sectors. It also consid-
ers the consumption of
water and the benefits and
services - including
ecosystem services - that
result from that consump-
tion, including the return
flow of non-consumed
water. A water accounting
system based on open
access earth observation
satellite data for complete
river basins - including
transboundary basins - is
being piloted in this proj-
ect: The Water Accounting
Plus system (WA+,
www.wateraccounting.org)
As part of this project
the WA+ team of IHE-Delft
will: a) prepare water
accounts for two river
basins in Madhya Pradesh
(Kali Sindh and
Wainganga), and one in
Karnataka (Tungabhadra),
b) provide training of Water
Accounting and open-
access Remote Sensing to
relevant governmental
organizations and local uni-
versities, and c) provide
recommendations based
on water security diagno-
sis.
In addition, IHE Delft is
providing Capacity
Development in Water
Accounting Plus (WA+) and
associated tools for Central
Water Commission, India.
Strategic Basin Assess-
ment of Brahmaputra
Basin, Funded by the World
Bank
We run a number of tai-
lor-made training courses,
including IWRM (Integrated
Water Resource
Management) training
course for Karnataka water
engineers and crop water
productivity for improved
investment and manage-
ment of Asia’s irrigation and
waters basin. This includes
a demonstration of SEBAL,
one of the first and most
widely recognized and used
models to “map” evapo-
transpiration using satellite
images, especially in agri-
culture.
In conclusion, I have a
strong affinity to India, hav-
ing lived and worked in
Mumbai for a while and
made many trips to differ-
ent regions. For IHE Delft,
the Institute is and always
has been an important
country. We have 500 alum-
ni there, many of whom are
in positions of responsibility
and decision-making. We
hope to collaborate with
many Indian partners over
the next few years to try to
tackle, together, some of
your wicked water
problems.
December, 2017 39
 COVER STORY

Driving Toward a Solution

for India’s Rivers
By
SADHGURU
FOUNDER,
ISHAFOUNDATION

People think that because

of water there are trees.
No, because of trees there
is water.

40 December, 2017 EXPRESS WATER


MY ENGAGEMENT WITH
nature is not as an ecolo-
gist or as an environmen-
talist. I am not a scientist of
any kind. My engagement
with nature is as life. Right
from my childhood, I’ve
spent more time outdoors
than indoors. From the age
of 12 to 17, every day I swam
in Kaveri. And when I was 17,
I rafted down Kaveri from
Bhagamandala to Mysore
on four truck tubes and
twelve bamboos. Even now
it is difficult to keep me
indoors!
My experience of rivers,
of water and of nature is
not by study, but simply by
observation. I have spent
weeks on end by myself in
jungles, living off the jungle
with no external support.
There is nothing special in
this. Every other creature in
the world does this. I have
never separated myself
from nature. I see myself
and everything else as just
an element of that.
Soil & Water Are Not Com-
modities
Your body is just soil and
water sitting here. Most
people don’t get this point
until you bury them. When
we are buried, we all under-
stand that we are part of
the soil. It is because we
have some mobility right
now that we can’t believe
that we are part of the soil.
If we were rooted like a tree,
we would understand this
very clearly.
Like the soil, water is
also not a commodity. It is
life-making material. The
human body is 72% water.
You are a water body. And
on this planet, rivers are the
water bodies with which we
have the closest relation-
ship. But if you look at our
rivers today, they have suf-
fered drastic depletion.
Many rivers that have been
perennial for millions of
years, are turning seasonal
in just two generations. And
they are going to deplete
faster in the coming years.
Some of the major rivers
EXPRESS WATER
have shrunk by 60%. Rivers
like Krishna and Kaveri do
not touch the ocean for
three-four months of the
year. The issue is not limit-
ed to a few rivers. Across
the country, most of our
rivers are drying up.
Many people in the
country have a certain
mentality that status quo is
a solution. Status quo is not
a solution. Status quo
means you are resigning
yourself to your present
predicament, whatever it is.
When it comes to our
rivers, our water bodies and
our soil, you may think the
situation is status quo, but
nature doesn’t think so. As
far as nature is concerned,
a serious depletion of soil,
water and other life-making
material is happening.
In this country, before
the 1950s, we had famines
that killed in millions. When
the horrendous act of Adolf
Hitler killing six million
Jews was unfolding in
Europe over a period of six
to seven years, in just two-
and-a-half months, 3.5 mil-
lion people were killed in
the Bengal famine in 1943.
For fifty years, we have
avoided another famine.
But now we are once again
driving ourselves into the
same place.
People may not die in
such high numbers today
but there will definitely be
serious disruption of life.
Once there is no water in
the villages, you will have an
exodus. You will have peo-
ple camping in your city, in
the streets, all over. If you
try to do anything with
them, they will get violent.
The civil strife that we
could be faced with in the
next 30-40 years is
immense.
This is not about trying
to paint a doomsday pic-
ture. We are clearly driving
in a certain direction, and if
we don’t change our direc-
tion now, we will inevitably
go towards certain situa-
tions. In the last four years,
our pulse import has gone
up by seventeen percent.
We are a country which
consumes a huge amount
of pulses, but we are not
able to grow them anymore
because there is no water.
Most of these crops are
rainwater irrigated, but the
rain is not dependable any-
more. There was a time
when farmers used to know
which day it will rain with-
out any meteorological
department, but today you
have no clue when it will
come, so how will you know
when to plant?
Reviving Our Rivers
One fundamental reason
for the depletion of our
rivers is that there is not
enough vegetation on the
land. In order to feed rivers,
the soil around them needs
to be wet. Most of our rivers
are forest-fed. When the
land was covered by rain-
forest, precipitation gath-
ered in the soil and fed the
streams and rivers which
then were in full flow.
If there is no forest, there
will be no river after some
time. This must be under-
stood: people think that
because of water there are
trees. No, because of trees
there is water. So our rivers
need sufficient green cover
all along their course.
But this is not going to
happen with volunteer
enthusiasm. You and me
planting a few million trees
– the time for that is over.
We should have done that
WATER LEADERS
forty years ago. Now we
need an enforceable policy
which will determine how
we should live around our
water bodies, what we
should do and what we
should not do.
For this, we have come
up with a draft policy rec-
ommendation put together
by a panel of experts and
scientists. The solution is
that for a minimum of one
kilometer on either side of
the river and half kilometer
for tributaries, we plant
native, endemic vegetation.
Wherever it is govern-
ment land, we create a for-
est in the entire area – not
just restricted to a kilome-
ter. Wherever it is farmer-
owned land, there needs to
be a shift to tree-based
agriculture. This will also
result in more than dou-
bling farmers’ income.
If we implement this
properly in the next eight to
ten years, you will see the
flows in the river can go up
by fifteen to twenty percent
in the next 15 to 25 years.
But if we wait for 15, 20
years and then attempt to
reverse the problem, it will
take a very long time to
turn around. This is not
activist talk, this is proper
science.
This is a responsibility
that we owe to the future
generations. As a genera-
tion of people, we have
caused the maximum dam-
age. As a generation, even if
we can’t fix everything, at
least we must drive in the
right direction towards
what must be done.
As a step towards this, for
30 days from September 3
to October 2, we conducted
the Rally for Rivers, where I
personally drove across 16
states and over 9300 kilo-
meters, with 142 events
across the country, to make
a strong pitch for saving our
rivers.
We have presented the
draft River Revitalization
Policy to the union govern-
ment, state governments,
various experts and the
media. It is also available for
public download and there is
a three-month window dur-
ing which we welcome all
technical and scientific
inputs to further strengthen
the policy.
After this, there is a lot of
work to turn this into a poli-
cy and put it on the ground.
We will pursue this on vari-
ous levels and try to sup-
port the government.
Wherever they find loop-
holes and they don’t have
the time or energy to fill in
those loopholes, we will
step in.
If we can arrive at a com-
mon policy and start the
implementation, it will be a
huge and successful step
for the future of our nation
and for the wellbeing of
generations to come.
Note: Visit RallyForRivers.org for
more information on how you can par-
ticipate and get involved in Rally For
Rivers – a nationwide campaign to
revitalize our rivers.
December, 2017 41
COVER STORY

Deploying Small Water

Enterprises to Provide
Safe Drinking Water
Access to Rural India
By
POONAM SEWAK
VP- KNOWLEDGE &
PARTNERSHIPS,
SAFE WATER NETWORK

It is in India’s
rural
communities
where an
imminent need
is felt: only 43%
of rural
habitations have
piped water
supply, which
covers just 54%
of population.

42 December, 2017 EXPRESS WATER


WE ALL WISH for a world in
which safe, affordable
water is available for every-
one. This sentiment is the
driving force behind the
United Nations’
Sustainable Development
Goal (SDG) 6.1, which aims
to “achieve universal and
equitable access to safe
and affordable drinking
water for all” by 2030.
However, 2.1 billion people
around the globe lack
access to safe water. The
World Bank estimates that,
at current spending levels,
4.5 billion people will be in
need of safe water by 2030
- a number that will account
for more than half of the
world’s projected popula-
tion.
These estimates are all
the more exasperating
when we realize that,
though there may be
enough fresh water on the
planet to achieve SDG 6.1,
various obstacles stand in
the way of the significant
progress that must be
made in order to ensure
safe water globally. As a
result, millions of people
are affected each year from
diseases related to inade-
quate safe water supply.
These issues become
more pronounced when we
consider a country like
India, which is home to 1.32
billion people - approxi-
mately 18 percent of the
world’s population. India
has four percent of the
world’s freshwater
resources, but this water is
unevenly distributed (both
spatially and temporally).
As a result, an estimated 38
million people annually are
affected by waterborne dis-
eases, and approximately
4,00,000 deaths can be
attributed to contaminated
water each year.
Inadequate access to
safe drinking water impacts
the health and economic
well-being of the country as
a whole, but it is in India’s
rural communities where
an imminent need is felt: 43
percent of rural habitations
EXPRESS WATER
have piped water supply,
which covers 54 percent of
the population (at 40 litres
of water per capita per
day). Yet still, the 2011
Census of India estimates
that 138 million rural
households in India -
approximately 690 million
people - lack access to
treated piped water. India
ranks 120th out of 122
nations for its water quality,
and 133rd out of 180
nations for its water avail-
ability.
India has achieved
unprecedented progress in
providing water access to
communities through a
number of innovative gov-
ernment initiatives
designed to satisfy the
United Nations’ Millennium
Development Goals (prede-
cessor to the current
Sustainable Development
Goals). Access to basic
water supply facilities has
been provided for many,
through a combination of
piped water systems, pro-
tected wells, hand pumps,
and other means.
The challenge that India’s
government now faces cen-
ters on achieving India’s
2030 vision for affordable,
equitable, efficient, and sus-
tainable piped water supply
for all - referred to as Har
Ghar Jal (water for every
home). India aims to provide
70 litres of water per capita
per day using sustainable
sources, while ensuring sus-
tainable services. This
requires covering opera-
tions and maintenance
costs from revenue so that
high-quality water can be
provided on an on-going
basis to a growing rural pop-
ulation.
To meet the govern-
ment’s water goals, an addi-
tional investment of nearly
INR 5,00,000 crores in infra-
structure alone will be
required. In addition, the
country will need to achieve:
a reduction in coverage slip-
pages; an improvement in
water quality; an alternative
to dependency on ground-
water; and coordination
among various government
bodies.
Based on India’s 2017-
2018 budget, however, an
insufficient sum of INR
5,000 crores is allocated to
the Ministry of Drinking
Water and Sanitation for the
National Rural Drinking
Water Programme. As we
move toward the 2030 goal -
which includes an interim
target of piped water for 95
percent of households by
2022 - the country’s
approach regarding water
access and availability must
be re-evaluated.
In recent years, the public
and private sectors have
been looking to small water
enterprises - decentralized,
locally owned and operated
water supply systems that
provide affordable, reliable,
safe drinking water on a sus-
tainable basis - as an oppor-
tunity to meet the need
where large infrastructure is
inappropriate or cumber-
some, and where coverage
slippage is an issue. There
are currently an estimated
30,000-35,000 small water
enterprises across India,
and many more are needed.
The small water enterprise
approach can be a comple-
mentary solution for areas
where piped water is
unavailable or insufficient,
and offers an affordable
approach to reach those in
need.
Research suggests that,
even among low-income
populations, consumers
are willing to pay INR 5 per
20 litres of safe water. This
willingness to pay implies
that the market-based
approaches can be viable
as long as affordability is
taken into account.
(According to the United
Nations, water tariffs that
do not exceed three per-
cent of household income
is considered affordable.)
Guided by Government
of India policies, Safe Water
Network provides a safe
and affordable drinking
water solution through
WATER LEADERS
iJal Equipment (Photo Credit: Suzanne Lee)
small water enterprises
that operate under the
brand iJal. These iJal sta-
tions serve as community-
level treatment facilities
that produce water in
adherence to national stan-
dards. The stations provide
equitable and inclusive safe
water to communities for
drinking and cooking at
affordable prices. Using
reverse osmosis water
treatment technology, each
iJal station features a
remote monitoring system
that allows for real-time
tracking to monitor water
quality and system per-
formance. Stations are
built only after Safe Water
Network has received
approval from local govern-
ments, and local residents
are trained to operate and
maintain the plant and
interact with consumers.
Equipped with an inventory
of spare parts, skilled tech-
nicians provide support in
maintaining and repairing
the stations to keep down-
time below two percent.
Operational sustainability
is matched with financial
sustainability: the Safe
Water Network model is
designed to provide incen-
tives and capacity-building
throughout the value chain
so that the stations can
function reliably and con-
tinuously, funded by con-
sumer water fees.
Recognizing the enormi-
ty of the challenge in India
and around the world, Safe
Water Network has been
focused on demonstrating
a proposition that can be
replicated and scaled up by
others. With more than 200
stations (primarily in
Telangana) reaching more
than 7,23,000 people, Safe
Water Network’s opera-
tional footprint in India is a
compelling argument for
the potential of small water
enterprises.
The success of small
water enterprises in India is
proof that this approach
can help bridge the safe
water accessibility gap. iJal
stations have positively
impacted lives in communi-
ties throughout India by
providing safe and afford-
able drinking water, improv-
ing quality of life with fewer
incidences of waterborne
diseases, and increasing
workdays and schooldays
as a result.
At a capital expense of
INR 1,100 per capita, or a
total cost of INR 75,000
crores, small water enter-
prises could provide sus-
tainable safe water access
to 690 million people in
rural India - and ensure that
future generations achieve
the economic opportunity
that safe water and good
health provide.
Armed with this evi-
dence, it is now up to sector
stakeholders to work
together, in alliance, to cat-
alyze the scale up of small
water enterprises. In doing
so, we stand to realize a
healthy future for India and
the world - one of equity,
inclusiveness, and sustain-
ability.
December, 2017 43
COVER STORY

Indian Water Sector -

On the Crossroads By
SUBHASH SETHI
CHAIRMAN,
SPMLINFRALIMITED
Water scarcity in
India is a
manmade
problem.
Mismanagement
of water
resources
caused the
current crisis
resulting in
millions of
Indians having
no access to
clean drinking
water.

44 December, 2017 EXPRESS WATER


240 MLD STP, Ahmedabad
INDIA IS COMPETING with
large developed economies
in the world and its econom-
ic growth is expected to
hovering around 7-8 per
cent in next few years.
Despite being one of the
major economies in the
world having about 18 per
cent of global population, it
only contains 4% of the
world's fresh water
resources, which are also
declining in terms of supply
and quality. Drinking water
was once considered safe in
India, but today providing
nearly 1.35 billion inhabi-
tants with access to safe
drinking water is a difficult
challenge. The alarming rate
of depleting groundwater
sources and rapidly pollut-
ing surface water requires
immediate and focused
attention by all stake
holders.
Scarce Resource
India is facing the chal-
lenge of rapidly growing
water demand, driven by
ever increasing population,
firm economic growth,
faster trends of urbaniza-
tion and increased industri-
alization activities. The
water scarcity problem is
not only a result of quantita-
tive or qualitative shortage
but also a consequence of
inefficient use and poor
water management. The
2030 Water Resources
Group has calculated that
India’s water demand will
outstrip supply by 50 per
cent by the year 2030. A sig-
nificant challenge faced by
India; therefore to increase
EXPRESS WATER
conservation of water
across operations and
geographies.
India’s major depend-
ence on groundwater has
resulted in over-extraction
which is lowering the water
table and adversely impact-
ing drinking water supply.
India is the world’s largest
user of groundwater that
extracts more than any
other country in the world
and accounts for nearly 25
per cent of the world’s
extracted groundwater.
Since 1980s, its groundwa-
ter levels have been drop-
ping considerably. World
Resources Institute has
ranked India at 41 in global
water stress rankings of 181
countries and among the
second high-risk nations.
The water stress is extreme-
ly high in the north-western
region where levels have
plunged from 8 meters
below ground to 16 meters.
Parts of northern region
including Delhi face serious
water shortages every sum-
mer. A decade-long study of
wells in Maharashtra shows
that 70 per cent of them
have declining groundwater
levels. Much of the water
extracted from the under-
ground sources is non-
renewable as the recharge
rates are much lesser than
the extraction rates.
Central Water
Commission said that
India’s major dams were at
just 27% of their capacity
and 91 reservoirs were 30%
below last year’s levels.
Groundwater and surface
water is under high risk
from both agricultural and
urban uses. Declining rates
of natural replenishment
are threatening the sustain-
ability of aquifers in the
Indo-Gangetic basin, which
constitute one of Asia’s
most densely populated
and agriculturally produc-
tive regions.
Contamination Issues
India’s groundwater
sources are not only overex-
ploited but also contaminat-
ed. The deep-level ground-
water is contaminated by
sewage, fluoride, arsenic,
and uranium. Incidence of
arsenic contamination has
doubled between 2013 and
2016, as measured by num-
ber of affected habitations.
Water Aid, an interna-
tional organization working
for water sanitation and
hygiene finds that an alarm-
ing 80 per cent of India's
surface water is polluted.
Central Pollution Control
Board estimates that 75-80
per cent of water pollution
200 MLD WTP, Surajpura
WATER LEADERS
by volume is from domestic
sewerage, while untreated
sewage flowing into water
bodies including rivers have
almost doubled in recent
years. India has just about
270 sewage treatment
plants and most of them are
performing under their
capacity due to poor infra-
structure support and lack
of funds with local utility
bodies. It is estimated that
due to lack of sewage treat-
ment facilities, more than
62 per cent of total sewage
is discharged directly into
our rivers and other water
bodies and further polluting
the already limited water
resources.
The World Health
Organization finds that
about 1.6 million people die
every year from water borne
diseases due to lack of safe
drinking water and basic
sanitation. 90 per cent of
them are children under the
age of 5, mostly in develop-
ing countries including
India. Safe drinking water is
a basic requirement and
millions of people in India
have no access to any
source of drinking water.
Water and Smart Cities
In India, the smart and
future cities will face major
challenges as far as water
demand supply manage-
ment is concerned. The
challenges will revolve
around water supply, waste-
water management and
drainage services in the city.
With the growing impor-
tance of cities in the Indian
economy, water crisis has
the potential to impact not
only public health but also
country’s economic devel-
opment. This threat will mul-
tiply with the growth of
water-intensive industries
and high levels of industrial
pollution affecting water
bodies and aquifers. With
rapid population growth,
United Nations estimates
that India will become the
world’s most populous
country by 2024. With a
number of planned smart
and future cities; increased
demands for food and ener-
gy and consistent poor man-
agement of water resources,
the water stress will be
worsening in urban regions
where groundwater is
already overdrawn.
Key to meeting these
challenges requires planned
efforts in many ways in
which water use, future
needs and sustainability
with treatment and reuse
could be addressed. To
ensure optimal water sup-
ply and demand manage-
ment in future cities where
freshwater sources may be
insufficient to keep pace
with population growth,
prudent will be to use water
more efficiently and cut
overall demand. Above and
below the ground infra-
structure needs careful
assessment and revamp in
line with the growing
demand. Future planning
December, 2017 45
 COVER STORY
will depend upon efficiently
handling of entire water
cycle using modern tech-
nologies and best practices.
At the same time, it will be
essential that necessary
technologies, capabilities,
processes and practices are
made available on the
required timescale.
Water Technologies
The global innovation in
water technologies will help
in countering water scarcity
issues and support utilities
with sustainable water man-
agement services. The
inventive technology has
made significant break-
throughs in water supply
and distribution, drip irriga-
tion, desalination, waste
water treatment, automa-
tion, asset management,
metering and other aspects
of water management.
Innovations such as afford-
able desalination plants are
need of the time in water
stressed states of
Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu
and Rajasthan which are
investing in such projects for
creating drinking water
through desalination plants.
Technologies for treating
water have also advanced
significantly over the past
few years as researchers
have increasingly focused
their efforts on water treat-
ment technologies. Today
the availability of clean, safe
drinking water is on demand
at every location in the
world. However, even this
highly treated water is sub-
ject to degradations in qual-
ity once it leaves the treat-
ment plant and enters the
distribution system. The
new innovations in water
treatment technology have
enabled us to develop new
cities and habitants along
with our businesses. Water
purification system using
nanotechnology offers
opportunities to develop
next generation water sup-
ply systems with advanced
level of treatment to
improve efficiency as well as
to augment water supply
46 December, 2017
through safe use of water
sources.
SPML Infra, based on its
experience of more than 3
decades in water manage-
ment in India, has developed
an Integrated Management
Information System (IMIS),
a software solution for
smart management of water
utilities. It is highly scalable
and capable of handling the
Metering, Billing, CRM,
Network Analysis, Demand
Forecasting & Management,
Asset and Inventory
Management, Business
Intelligence, and Operation
& Maintenance of the entire
water supply and distribu-
tion network. After imple-
menting this system, the
water loss has been consid-
erably reduced and revenue
increased significantly with
better consumer services in
Delhi and Karnataka.
Smart Water Grid
Smart water grid inte-
grates Information and
Communication Technology
(ICT) into a single water
management scheme. This
is a promising solution for
resolving critical water prob-
lems to ensure the security
of water quantity, quality
with the help of ICT-based
water management solu-
tions. In Singapore, the
implementation of a Smart
Water Grid system supports
the mission to supply 24x7
good water supplies to its
people. With sensors and
analytic tools deployed to
provide a real-time monitor-
ing and decision support
system, the Smart Water
Grid system enables utility
to manage the water supply
network efficiently, ensuring
that all residents will contin-
ue to enjoy a reliable and
sustainable water supply for
generations to come. The
Smart Water Grid system
covers the key operational
aspects of a water distribu-
tion system like asset man-
agement, leak and non-rev-
enue water management,
water quality monitoring,
automated meter reading
and water conservation. For
going forward in India, we
need to consider the imple-
mentation of smart water
grids in our cities, especially
in the planned smart cities
to help service provider with
real time monitoring of
assets and water quality to
enhance planning and net-
work operations; it also
enables consumers to make
informed choices towards
water conservation. In addi-
tion, the usage data from
automated meter readings
will enable more accurate
demand prediction for opti-
mizing pumping schedules,
water turn-over in service
reservoirs, and water
required to be treated and
pumped. The further
research and testing are
being done to realize the full
benefits of a Smart Water
Grid.
Water Governance
Improving governance in
water segment remains a
matter of concern since
arrangements are generally
fragmented which needs a
radical transformation to be
able to address new chal-
lenges. In India, water is
being a state subject; water
supplies, irrigation and
canals, drainage and
embankments and storage
falls in the state list. There is
a need to recognize water as
a finite and vulnerable
resource. The government
should take urgent action to
set the stage for enactment
of a comprehensive national
legislation on water after
evolving a national consen-
sus to bring it in the concur-
rent list and formulate an
over-arching national legal
framework for effective
water management, conser-
vation, development and
equitable distribution with
regulatory authority to deal
exclusively with the matter.
The existing legislations on
water should also be com-
prehensively reviewed.
Legislation and executive
action must continue to be
undertaken as water ranks
higher priority than any
other. The Uttarakhand High
Court has recognized the
rivers - Ganga and Yamuna
as a living entity, which
means that anybody found
polluting the river would be
seen as harming a human
being. It reflects a sense of
urgency in containing water
contamination and trying to
rescue our rivers from ram-
pant pollution.
India’s agriculture sector
consumes more water to
grow same amount of crops
compared to global average.
Despite being a water scarce
country, our agricultural pro-
duce is extremely water
intensive. While the agricul-
ture sector needed urgent
water reforms, non-agricul-
ture use of water also suffers
from unplanned usage and
wastage. A majority of India’s
households are using private
means such as bore-wells to
extract groundwater without
any regulation or concern for
conservation. The policy
planning and implementa-
tion must have the participa-
tion of principal water stake-
holders of our country like
farmers, industry, energy
producers, government
agencies, rural and urban
consumers etc. for improv-
ing the governance of water.
Future Course
Management of water
supply required to harmo-
nize demands and needs
which are getting more and
more complex and sophisti-
cated. The first thing we
must do is to mitigate the
causes of water shortages
as much as possible. A
strategic and pragmatic
approach, based on practical
implementation has to be
implemented in order to
address the key challenges
of water management. We
need to have smart water
concept with the gradual
integration and convergence
of ICT solutions implement-
ed within the water domain.
The water management
requires a collaborative
approach between the pub-
lic and private sectors, and
within the different levels of
government from centre to
state to local levels. Private
expertise is essential in
closing the water gap
across the segment.
Optimism
The Indian water sector
is on the crossroads today.
In a developing country with
huge requirements, there is
a vast scope for growth. The
total Indian water market is
estimated to be about USD
14 billion with a growth rate
of about 18 per cent every
year. At SPML Infra, we are
optimistic of India’s water
sector’s prospects and our
role within. We believe that
the water infrastructure has
not grown even to the
extent of 10 percent of its
true potential, which indi-
cates that this single verti-
cal holds out decades of
sustainable growth poten-
tial.
India has for decades
been a consumption-driven
economy, but it needs to
swing the needle towards
infrastructure growth. We
are pleased to see that the
present Indian government
appears to share the same
view. Over the last three
years, the Indian govern-
ment has addressed the
sector’s potential with an
unusual but highly effective
response. The government
has selected to correct the
sectoral framework with the
declaration of large projects
under several new schemes
having dedicated budgets
for water sector. We believe
that this sequential correc-
tion is critical and logical in
policy framework and once
it becomes a reality, we
believe that projects will be
completed faster, cash
inflows will be quicker, in-
project disputes will be
addressed and resolved
closest to real-time, the
unproductive investment in
long-drawn arbitration will
decline, infrastructure
growth will accelerate and
the country will benefit.
EXPRESS WATER
 COVER STORY
TechnologyApproach
for Water Management
for Smart Cities
By
K.ASHOK NATARAJAN
CEO,TAMILNADU WATER INVESTMENT
COMPANYLTD.
It is widely accepted in India that
24x7 supply is the preferred way
forward for smart cities, with such
supply being more hygienic, more
cost effective, and more
productive for the consumer.
48 December, 2017
WATER IS ESSENTIAL for
life but is finite and there-
fore precious. Serving pure
and potable water, with no
sewer overflows to the
dense populations in pro-
posed smart cities in India,
is a challenging task given
the fact that most of the
cities proposed in India are
brown fields.
By now, it is widely accepted
in India that 24x7 (continu-
ous) supply is the preferred
way forward for smart
cities, with such supply
being more hygienic (better
water quality), more cost-
effective (less leakage and
breakdowns, less invest-
ment by consumer) and
more productive for the
consumer.
At present, attempts
towards 24x7 water supply
have brought forward a mul-
titude of problems facing
the utility, bringing the real-
ization that 24x7 could only
happen if both the distribu-
tion network and the utility
itself underwent a transfor-
mation and the utility
deployed contemporary
technologies to manage
water.
Emergence of NDT
Techniques for condition
assessment of water and
waste water network for
smart cities:
• Understanding when a
water or sewerage pipe is
expected to fail and to
understand its residual
life has become very pop-
ular especially in other
Asian countries due to
high cost of rehabilitation.
New technology using
closed circuit TV helps to
ascertain both the water
and sewer pipe line in
terms of structural
integrity and quality of
joints thereby helps to
manage risks than tradi-
tional approach of replac-
ing pipes and this enables
the Capex to be optimized
and the perquisite of
smart cities to be com-
mercially viable within 5
years is possible to
achieve compared to the
traditional approach of
replacement.
• Traditional non-revenue
water loss methodologies
of active and passive leak-
age controls in pressur-
ized systems can be aug-
mented by using Smart
Ball leak detection tech-
nology which has been
used in Malaysia and
Manila wherein a smart
ball is inserted and travels
with water flow for 12
hours and collects infor-
mation and this can
detect even pin hole leaks
in pressurized pipes.
• A new devise for pipe scan
technology using teth-
ered in line inspection has
been successfully
deployed to perform con-
dition assessment of
water mains and to deter-
mine the C value of pipes.
A fibre optic cable with
scanner complete analy-
sis of pipework, wall thick-
ness of pipes and location
of vulnerability can be
zeroed including joint
condition of pipes.
• An important methodolo-
gy for leak detection is
being refined through
application of GPR
ground penetrating radar
where leaked joints that
could to lead to pollution
can be detected by non-
destructive geophysical
techniques. The GPR
operates by transmitting
microwave electromag-
netic energy down into
the subsurface. When EM
waves encounter the
interface having different
dielectric constant, the
portion of the wave is
reflected. The amplitude
of the reflected wave is
directly proportional to
difference in the dielectric
properties of the target
and the medium. Through
this method, the probable
locations with leakage can
be located which will lead
to optimization of excava-
tion work required, and
need of pipeline replace-
ment and the need of
repair work. Hence, saving
time and money to a great
extent.
EXPRESS WATER

Emergence of the Decen-
tralized Wastewater Man-
agement Strategies for
Smart Cities
Sanitation has been the
single most important pub-
lic health infrastructure for
all communities, and sanita-
tion for all remains a key
objective for India under
Swachh Bharat scheme.
Many proposed smart
cities face the challenge of
aging sanitation infrastruc-
ture or inadequate capacity
to service a growing popula-
tion.
Furthermore, approxi-
mately 90% of all waste-
water in India is discharged
untreated, polluting rivers,
lakes and seas. Wastewater
is now widely recognized as
EXPRESS WATER
an important resources and
reference to sustainable
wastewater management.
Decentralized waste-
water systems, coupled
with the concepts of an
urban model for urban
water management is
emerging as a model for
sewerage services support-
ing sustainable and resilient
cities of the future.
Fit-for-purpose recycled
water schemes are emerg-
ing to maximize recycled
water usage where a base-
line recycled water quality is
reticulated with additional
treatment facilities to fit-
for-purpose standards
located at the demand-side
of the system.
Other innovations that
are emerging in sustainable
wastewater management
include the use of pressure
sewers and smart discharge
scheduling to Sewerage
Treatment Plants (STPs) to
moderate inflow patterns to
optimize the operation and
capacity of these plants.
Emergence of the Inte-
grated Water Management
Systems for Smart Cities
Integrated management
of distribution network solu-
tion that allows for success-
ful transition from intermit-
tent to equitable and con-
tinuous water supply can be
deployed.
Reservoir Management
System (RMS) devices for
measurement & control of
WATER LEADERS
flow, pressure and levels in
the inlet of the Elevated
Service Reservoir (ESR)
based on extensive
hydraulic modelling of exist-
ing and modified water sup-
ply networks and Outlet
Management System
devices for measurement &
control of flow and pressure
at the downstream side of
ESR in the distribution sys-
tem can be implemented
and shall have the feature of
remote on/off, flow control,
flow metering, air manage-
ment etc., and system shall
be capable to deliver the
water to end user as per the
demand.
These systems along
with the smart metering
and IOT technologies avail-
able can help in the integra-
tion of the technical, com-
mercial ad planning func-
tion of a smart city thus
enabling them to have more
control of their assets and
thus making themselves
viable.
This column looks at
suggested practices by
deployment of technologies
available for efficient water
management for proposed
smart cities that are essen-
tial for effective water man-
agement, with the intention
that some of these meas-
ures be introduced in cur-
rent practices to limit risks
and provide more options to
the utility about future oper-
ations and viability for
smart cities.
December, 2017 49
COVER STORY

Solving Global
Water Crisis By
KOICHI MATSUI
CHAIRPERSON &
MANAGING DIRECTOR,
UEM INDIA
On current
trends, it is
estimated that
water demand -
for industry,
energy and an
extra billion
people - will
increase up to
50% by 2030.

50 December, 2017 EXPRESS WATER


Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) built by UEM
WATER IS THE MOST pre-
cious commodity and we
are running out of it. As
cities across many first-
World developed countries
started experiencing
drought-like conditions, the
ground reality of the water
scarcity and the need for
water and wastewater man-
agement rose to the sur-
face.
This is a cost that human
civilization has to pay in
exchange for the massive
and rapid urbanization.
While the population explo-
sion has made it certain
that the pace of urbaniza-
tion cannot be slowed
down, certain measures
when implemented effec-
tively, can help the world
battle the water crisis.
On current trends, it is
estimated that water
demand - for industry,
energy and an extra billion
people - will increase up to
50% by 2030. Globally,
10% of available water
flows into domestic use,
70% into agriculture and
20% into industrial produc-
tion. Wastewater-runoff
from agriculture, industry
and expanding cities, espe-
cially in developing nations,
is a major part of the prob-
lem. Recycling and reusing
wastewater, however, could
be the key to solving global
water crisis.
In India, which is the
EXPRESS WATER
World’s second most popu-
lated country, a vast por-
tion of this population is
impacted by challenges like
limited access to safe
drinking water and proper
sanitation. A majority of the
domestic wastewater goes
untreated, polluting the
available water resources
like rivers, lakes and ground
water sources. A rapidly
depleting groundwater
supply due to water guz-
zling industries compound-
ed with an ever increasing
population is creating a
pressing need for increased
efficiency.
The water/wastewater
treatment in India is a USD
4 bn industry and growing
at 10-12% every year. There
are several funding agen-
cies like World Bank, ADB,
JICA, etc., which are fund-
ing several prestigious
municipal projects in sever-
al states of India.
In addition, there are
also several projects under
the AMRUT (Atal Mission
for Rejuvenation and Urban
Transformation) scheme
involving lake and river con-
servation. Further, NMCG
(National Mission for Clean
Ganga) has identified sev-
eral key projects along the
Ganges river in the states of
Uttarakhand, UP, Bihar,
Jharkhand, and West
Bengal involving STP and
sewerage schemes worth
over 12000 cr.
Indian Government is
making several efforts to
address the issue of water.
The policy on ZLD being
drafted by the Pollution
Control Board and the
Ministry of Environment in
India focuses on the indus-
tries’ responsibility towards
the environment. Besides
reducing pollution at the
source, policy initiatives
must also focus on remov-
ing contaminants from
wastewater flows, reusing
water, and recovering use-
ful by-products.
The rejuvenation of the
Ganges under the aegis of
NMCG is one such platform
where the joint efforts
made by the central and
state governments, urban
local bodies and the private
sector will definitely result
in a synergy that is crucial
for the success of the
‘Clean India’ Initiative.
UEM, a Toshiba group
company, is a part of this
initiative as we are already
working on three projects
along the banks of the
Ganges - with Uttar
Pradesh Jal Nigam in
Allahabad, with Jharkhand
Urban Infrastructure
Development Company in
Sahibganj and with Bihar
Urban Infrastructure
Development Corporation
in Saidpur, and we are look-
ing forward to similar
WATER LEADERS
opportunities.
UEM has also completed
World Bank and JICA fund-
ed STP, Sewerage Pumping
Stations and Sewerage net-
work projects in Allahabad
and Varanasi, which are
currently under operation
and maintenance.
For Industrial waste-
water treatment, the
demand will grow as per
Indian economic growth.
We understand that signifi-
cant amount of capacities
would be added in Power
and Refinery sectors and
this would definitely augur
well for the industrial
wastewater treatment mar-
ket. Likewise, with growth in
other sectors also, we
assume that there would be
significant demand for
water and wastewater
treatment, water recycle
and reuse projects.
It is very important that
overexploitation of water at
the hands of industries and
mismanagement of water
resources is curtailed
because no amount of
development, no matter
how important or how nec-
essary, will ever justify the
indiscriminate use of
resources.
Today, UEM India pro-
vides complete, one-stop
solution from engineering
and design to construction,
installation, operation and
maintenance of water and
wastewater treatment facil-
ities. UEM offers multiple
modern technologies like
ZLD (Zero Liquid
Discharge) using HEROTM
(High Efficiency Reverse
Osmosis), Anaerobic
Biological Treatment,
Activated Sludge Process
(ASP), Sequential Batch
Reactor (SBR), Membrane
Bio Reactor (MBR), etc.
Apart from this, our
global design centre with
in-house engineering capa-
bilities in process engineer-
ing, civil and structural
engineering, mechanical
engineering, instrumenta-
tion and controls, and elec-
trical engineering that
allows us to deliver not just
the institutional knowledge
that UEM has gained in
designing over 350 proj-
ects, but also suggest the
best CAPEX & OPEX ratio
solution based on clients’
requirements.
Conservation of the
resources as well as devel-
opment can co-exist in tan-
dem and this is what we
believe in Toshiba and in
UEM. We realize that the
responsibility of making
this cohabitation possible
falls on the shoulders of
technology players like us.
Therefore, equipped
with our knowhow, expert-
ise, technology in
Wastewater Management
(including recycle and
reuse), UEM, under the
aegis of Toshiba, has
already started working
with various industries, and
partnering and associating
with initiatives like ‘Clean
India’ and the ‘Rejuvenation
of the Ganges’.
Water problems such as
water shortages and pollu-
tion are occurring in India
and around the world due
to population growth,
industrial development and
improvement of living stan-
dards. To solve those prob-
lems, global cooperation is
needed beyond regional or
national boundaries.
Toshiba and UEM have
been involved in the devel-
opment of water and
sewage infrastructure for
many years, and have
offered comprehensive
technologies ranging from
planning to implementation
to solve various water and
environmental problems.
Toshiba and UEM are
committed to the develop-
ment and operation of
water and environmental
infrastructure. Toshiba and
UEM will contribute to the
establishment of sustain-
able water circulation sys-
tems and the realization of
advanced environmentally
sound communities “for
the next India and the
world”.
December, 2017 51
 COVER STORY

Water Sustainability
Initiatives
By IT IS AN established fact that water is a finite resource.
With urbanization and industrialization, abuse of water has
RAJIVMITTAL been on the rise. Emerging markets face challenges such
as exploitation of catchment areas, high contamination of
MANAGING DIRECTOR water sources, losses during water distribution, low per-
centage of population connected to water and wastewater
& GROUPCEO, networks, inadequate treatment infrastructure, quality of
VATECH WABAG LTD water and treated sewage not conforming to prescribed
norms and sludge management.
The need of the hour is a comprehensive water and
wastewater management model which focuses on effec-
tively closing the water cycle by creating sufficient catch-
ment areas, coming up with alternative sources of water
such as desalination to bridge the water demand supply
gap in coastal areas, employing water conservation mech-
anisms, reducing leakages, effectively collecting and treat-
ing every drop of wastewater generated, and reusing the
wastewater for domestic, industrial and agricultural pur-
poses to minimize the burden on freshwater.
We need a robust policy framework and focus on imme-
diate implementation to create a sustainable water and
wastewater infrastructure by analysing how much we
extract, how much we squander, how much we consume,
how much we treat and most importantly how much we
value the finite resource called water.
As an industry leader with global credentials, we believe
it is our obligation to propose recommendations to policy
makers for development of water and wastewater infra-
structure to support economic growth. Some of these rec-
ommendations are elaborated below:
1. Concerted efforts to increase awareness levels among
the general public to optimize per capita consumption
and minimize wastage.
2. Rainwater harvesting to be made mandatory before
permitting any new construction.
3. Practice water conservation in agriculture, constitut-
ing 80% of freshwater demand.
a. Techniques such as drip irrigation instead of flood
irrigation.
b. Quality treated wastewater to be reused for irriga-
tion, and Windhoek in Namibia is a city where the
We need a robust policy framework same is in practice:
• The 21,000 m³/day Goreangab Water
and focus on immediate Reclamation Plant was born out of Windhoek’s
water emergency. It was the first in the world to
implementation to create a take municipal wastewater and turn it into
sustainable water and wastewater municipal drinking water.
• First industrial reuse plant in Namibia: The 5,175
infrastructure. m³/day Ujams Water Reclamation Plant. The
plant treats a cocktail of effluents from 5 differ-
ent types of industries and the water is treated

52 December, 2017 EXPRESS WATER


to an extent that allows reuse in irri-
gation.
Ujams Water Reclamation Plant, Namibia
4. Increased focus on construction of under-
ground sewers and interception/diversion
systems: Ensures 100% collection and
conveyance of wastewater to treatment
plants to eliminate untreated discharge
into freshwater sources.
5. In the rural areas - having absence of net-
works - in line with Government’s Swachh
Bharat and Open-Defecation-Free pro-
grams - ensuring that every village is
equipped with community soak pits/2 pit
latrines which:
a. Are eco-friendly, socio-culturally
acceptable and economically afford-
able.
b. Help avert water pollution by scientific
septage management: For a cluster of
villages within a specified radius, com-
munity septic tanks can be constructed
for a more sustainable model. The
sludge gets digested and can be used as
manure for agricultural purposes. With
a community septic tank of larger size,
the cost of emptying the pit can be met
partially from the cost of manure made
available.
6. Realize that “sewage is a resource with eco-
nomic value, not a liability” and “water is
too precious to be used just once”:
a. Increasing percentage of sewage treat-
ed in urban areas from current 30%, by
setting up more STPs (Sewage
Treatment Plants) and refurbishing
non-operational STPs (13% of the exist-
ing STPs).
b. Construction contracts to have in-built
provision for lifecycle partnership com-
prising operations and maintenance - to
be entrusted to technology players on
performance guarantee basis to
improve accountability.
c. In-line with National Water Policy, recy-
cle and reuse of municipal as well as
industrial effluents should be encour-
aged by providing incentives to set up
industrial treatment and recycling sys-
tems which are capital intensive:
Formulation and implementation of a
“polluter pays” policy by means of strin-
gent third-party inspections and ensur-
ing that the “cost of non-compliance” is
significantly higher than the cost of
EXPRESS WATER
compliance.
7. Reduce specific water consumption in
industries to minimize freshwater require-
ment by opting for plant modernization
with advanced water reuse technologies: A
properly planned tariff system driven by
economic considerations, in which there is
a cost for the quantity withdrawn, a refund
for returning properly treated water and
heavy fines for returning polluted water will
promote greater uptake of recycle meas-
ures by industries requiring large quantities
of water:
a. In line with Ministry of Power notifica-
tion to reuse municipal sewage for ther-
mal plants and Ministry of Environment
and Forests notification mandating new
thermal plants to reduce specific water
consumption from 3.5-4 m³/MWh to
2.5 m³/MWh and reuse of treated efflu-
ents within the industry to close the
water loop.
b. Reuse of treated wastewater for indus-
trial applications is in practice at NTPC,
Delhi:
• A 2400 m³/day MBR (Membrane bio
reactor) based STP (Sewage
Treatment Plant) and RO (Reverse
Osmosis) system as part of the reno-
vation and modernization process.
• The system not only ensures water
security for the power plant but also
effectively helps reuse of the source
water, which carries only sewage.
NTPC Badarpur, with the Adjoining Polluted Agra Canal
8. In the domestic as well as commercial sec-
tor,
a. Reuse of treated sewage for non-
potable purposes such as flushing, gar-
dening and construction to minimize
dependence on freshwater for potable
purposes.
b. For cities bereft of freshwater, treated
wastewater to be reused to recharge
aquifers and improve groundwater
table. In coastal areas, desalination is a
viable, sustainable and reliable source.
Chennai is a fine example of a city which
has sustained its water supply notwith-
standing not having a freshwater
source.
• Chennai has been the pioneer in
reusing treated sewage and using
desalination for domestic consump-
WATER LEADERS
tion, thus sustaining its daily water
supply.
100,000 m³/day Nemmeli Desalination Plant, Chennai
• The city meets almost 25% of its daily
requirement from the two desalina-
tion plants. The 100,000 m³/day
Nemmeli Desalination plant in the
largest in the country on DBO (Design
Build Operate) basis and is meant for
100% potable reuse.
• Two reuse plants of 45,000 m³/day,
each under construction, to serve the
industrial corridors, thus helping pri-
oritize freshwater for domestic con-
sumption.
9. Avert land, water and air pollution with effi-
cient sludge management techniques:
a. Sludge left as residue post the treat-
ment process is rich in organic content
comprising Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous
(P) and Potassium (K) and we need to
look at ways of recovering the resources
available:
• Conversion of sludge into organic
manure will restore natural contents
to the soil and reduce need for inor-
ganic/chemical fertilizers.
• Anaerobic digestion of the sludge or
septage produces biogas which con-
tains 65-70% methane:
- In rural areas, the biogas produced
can be used for cooking.
- In urban areas, biogas to be used for
green power generation or as CNG,
thus alleviating environmental pollu-
tion - In line with Ministry of New and
Renewable Energy’s subsidy pro-
gramme for producing green power
and India’s ratification at Paris
Climate Change Conference to satisfy
40% of its energy requirement from
non-fossil sources.
- The sludge from septic tanks in vil-
lages are well digested and can be
used as good manure providing
improved yield in agriculture (In line
with the Ministry of Urban
Development’s Faecal Sludge and
Septage Management Policy 2017).
b. Composting to avoid leachate pollution
as a result of conventional sludge man-
agement methods such as landfills and
sludge incineration.
December, 2017 53
 COVER STORY
Universal Access to
Piped and Safe Drinking
Water in India
By WATER POLICIES AND
programmes are occupying
VR RAMAN good space in the current
development discourse in
HEAD OFPOLICY, India. The President and the
Prime Minister had recently
WATERAID INDIA announced schemes for
provisioning of piped drink-
ing water supply for all. The
former had even expressed
his concern to the extent
that the advancement of
India was reliant on the
modernization of water
management, given that
India got a sheer 4% of
global fresh water share,
with the requirement of
17% of the global popula-
tion.
Launched in March 2017,
‘Har Ghar Jal’ (water in
every household) is a
scheme with a mission of
provisioning piped drinking
water supply to all house-
holds by 2030. Additionally,
Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) aim to cover
over 90 percent of the pop-
ulation by 2022. There are
visible and major steps
taken by various state gov-
ernments too, such as ‘Jal
Bhagiratha’ in Telangana,
Currently, only 17% of the rural ‘Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal’ in
Bihar, ‘Basudha’ in Odisha,
households in India have access to ‘Jalanidhi-2’ in Kerala,
piped drinking water. ‘Sardar Sarovar Canal
Based Water Supply
Project’ in Gujarat, ‘Jalyukta
Shivar Abhiyan’ in
Maharashtra, the ‘Jal
Swavalamban Abhiyan’ in
Rajasthan, and so on. There
54 December, 2017
are substantial initiatives,
such as the Atal Mission for
Rejuvenation and Urban
Transformation (AMRUT),
which have set clear goals
of providing piped drinking
water supply to all urban
households. Therefore, the
political intention for mov-
ing towards universal drink-
ing water access in India is
visible at the highest level
possible. However, this will
translate into reality only
when the intents combine
with action, with an eye on
quality outcomes. This mix
could be backed by way of
assessing the legal frame-
works, adequate budgetary
allocations and utilization,
and proper development
and implementation of poli-
cies and programmes.
Legal Frameworks
In the Indian context,
water in general remains a
state subject. It would have
helped if this was a shared
responsibility of both, the
centre and the state gov-
ernments. While the right to
water is not explicitly men-
tioned in the constitution,
this has been reiterated in a
number of court judge-
ments. For instance, in
2000, the Supreme Court
declared that access to
clean water is a fundamen-
tal human right of all citi-
zens under Article 21 (Right
to Life) of the Indian
Constitution, and that the
EXPRESS WATER

Photo Credit: WaterAid/ Ronny Sen
states are duty bound to
ensure this right. However,
the implications of such
judgements on different
dimensions of the right to
water were not clear, as
stated by the Minister of
Drinking Water and
Sanitation (MDWS) while
answering a Parliament
question in 2017. India has
recently ratified the UN res-
olution on acknowledging
the right to water, but a
roadmap to realise this is
yet to be developed.
Government programmes
continue to work on vague-
ly described entitlement
standards defined by
administrators and plan-
ners.
Budgets: Are They
Adequate?
Currently, only 17% of
the rural households in
India have access to piped
drinking water. MDWS esti-
mates that the overall
financial requirement from
the centre for taking this to
100% will be around INR 6
lakh crores spread over 13
years. This estimate is
based on the currently
approved structures and
processes, wherein the
actual requirement could
be much higher, since an
expansion at such a large
scale will have require-
ments for fulfilling several
additional aspects. If we
take this figure as the
EXPRESS WATER
benchmark, the annual
average requirement at
centre for meeting the goal
will be around INR 46,150
crores. Nevertheless, the
actual allocation for 2017-
18 is limited to INR 6,050
crores, which is indicative
of the allocation mismatch-
es. At the state levels too,
the current budget does
not corroborate the goal,
with some exceptions such
as Mission Bhagiratha in
Telangana that could
potentially be a game-
changer and catalyst for
other states. However, if we
are serious about pursuing
the stated intent, it requires
substantial enhancement
in budget allocations and
the spending capacities.
Provisions under the 14th
Finance Commission
necessitates building
stronger roles and financial
provisions for the local bod-
ies too, which is another
critical area to prioritise.
Analyzing Implementation
While the overall rural
coverage is around 17%,
the state-to-state varia-
tions are much higher, with
19 out of 31 states having
coverage much less than
the national average. Most
of the larger states are
doing much poorly in this
regard, except in the case
of a few. While Goa’s case
seems to be an issue of
Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West
Bengal and Madhya
Pradesh, amongst others,
are at the very initial or zero
stage, if we go by the
NRDWP reports.
Looking at the urban
landscape, around 65.5 mil-
lion people (17.4% of urban
population) lives in slums
of different kinds in India
(Census 2011). Here, the
situation needs major
improvement in order to
ensure piped water for all
households. However, the
current dearth of data, reli-
able or non-reliable, pre-
vents specific plans on
these, which itself is a huge
challenge to address.
National Sample Survey
69th round (2012) suggests
that 71% of the slum popu-
lation had access to water
supply provided from a tap
(not household connec-
tion). With rapid expansion
in urban migration, the
chance is for reduced cov-
erage, adding to the chal-
lenge of ensuring house-
hold level piped connec-
tions.
Other categories that
need attention in this
regard are the peri-urban
areas and small/emerging
towns. While some policy
discussions have begun,
often these are not consid-
ered either in urban or in
rural categories and we do
not have sufficient knowl-
edge or policies for these
areas. Provisions in the 14th
WATER LEADERS
Finance Commission could cials, strengthening capaci-
also be explored for ensur- ties of peoples’ representa-
ing decentralized and tives and local bodies at dif-
accountable water supply ferent levels, and enhanc-
systems for these areas. ing budgets and spending
For making the drinking capacities. Improving the
water safe for use, quality details of the implementa-
assurance and improve- tion and monitoring frame-
ments are critical in all set- works, developing and
tings. Currently, we have rolling out an institutional
some systems in place for support system that
regularly monitoring water addresses the needs of a
contamination in rural large scale service delivery
areas, limited to parame- is another critical step.
ters of chemical contami- One added challenge is
nations, while we do not to ensure metering, meas-
have systems to assess and uring and promoting
report biological contami- responsible usage, while
nations. providing running water to
Recent trends in data all households. Community
suggest a drastic reduction participation and leader-
in the chemical contamina- ship in all these steps are
tion of rural drinking water, also the critical aspects, for
raising questions around which platforms and plans
actual possibility of such need to be put in place.
changes- WaterAid India’s
own initiative to test chemi- State Coverage (%)
cal contamination levels of Sikkim 99.32
the drinking water sources Gujarat 77.82
in Raichur district Himachal Pradesh 56.61
(Karnataka) suggests that Puducherry 50.35
the problem is persisting, if Haryana 47.59
not grown. Concerns are Punjab 47.04
also around inadequate Karnataka 40.68
quality control systems, Maharashtra 36.7
such as equipped labs and
Telangana 32.7
competent technicians and
Tamil Nadu 28.97
staff. Though identified,
addressing the quality Andhra Pradesh 28.59
issues or building up alter- Jammu and Kashmir 28.44
natives, are yet to be priori- Kerala 15
tized. Operations and main- Uttarakhand 13.88
tenance systems is another Mizoram 13.47
area which needs major Rajasthan 12.13
strengthening. Measures to Andaman and Nicobar 10.15
ensure source sustainabili- Madhya Pradesh 10.1
ty, such as large-scale rain- Chattisgarh 7.8
water harvesting and com- Arunachal Pradesh 6.39
prehensive protection of Nagaland 4.91
sources, needs to be insti-
Manipur 4.88
tutionalized along with
Jharkhand 4.14
scaling up of supply sys-
Odisha 3.7
tems.
Tripura 2.45
Way Forward Assam 2.03
Given the aforemen- Bihar 1.22
tioned scenario, it is evi- Meghalaya 1.15
dent that the realization of West Bengal 0.67
various announcements Uttar Pradesh 0.45
related to universal access Goa 0
to piped drinking water
supply would depend on a Status of Household Level Access
lot of affirmative action. to Piped Drinking Water in Rural
This will include building India, October 2017 (Source:
legal accountability of offi- MDWS)
December, 2017 55
 COVER STORY
Desalination - Present
and Future
By OVER THE LAST thirty years
desalination has evolved into
NIKOLAYVOUTCHKOV a viable water supply alterna-
tive allowing to tap alterna-
PRESIDENT, tive water resources with
great potential to provide
WATER GLOBE CONSULTING LLC sustainable drought proof
water supply in may arid
regions of the world. At pres-
ent, desalinated water is pro-
duced by either using brack-
ish water (water with salt
content of less than 10,000
mg/L) or seawater which
salinity in a range of 30,000
to 44,000 mg/L. While
desalination of brackish
water offers opportunity for
production of lower cost
water, the total volume of
brackish water worldwide is
fairly limited (less than 1% of
world’s water) and in most
arid regions of the world is
almost fully tapped in.
Therefore, use of brackish
water desalination is not like-
ly to become a main source
of alternative water supply in
the future.
World’s oceans contain
over 97.2% of the planet’s
Technology advances are water resources. Because of
expected to ascertain the the high salinity of the ocean
water and the significant
position of SWRO costs associated with sea-
water desalination most of
treatment and to reduce the World population’s water
the cost of desalinated supply has traditionally
come from fresh water
water by 20% in the next 5 sources like - groundwater
aquifers, rivers and lakes.
years and by up to 60% in However, changing climate
patterns combined with
the next 20 years. population growth pres-
sures and limited availability
of new and inexpensive
fresh water supplies are
shifting water industry’s
attention to an emerging
trend - the world is reaching
56 December, 2017
to the ocean for fresh water.
The ocean has two
unique and distinctive fea-
tures as a water supply
source - it is drought proof
and is practically limitless.
Over 50% of World’s popula-
tion lives in urban centers
bordering the ocean. In
many arid parts of the world
such as the Middle East,
Australia, Northern Africa
and Southern California, the
population concentration
along the coast exceeds
75%. Therefore, seawater
desalination provides the
logical solution for a sustain-
able, long-term manage-
ment of the growing water
demand pressures in
coastal areas. While brack-
ish water desalination offers
opportunity for production
of lower cost desalinated
water, the total volume of
brackish water worldwide is
less than 1% of the saline
water contained in the
oceans.
By the end of 2015 world-
wide there were approxi-
mately 18,000 desalination
plants with total installed
production capacity of
86.55 million m³/day
[22,870 million gallons per
day (MGD)]. Approximately
44% of this capacity (37.32
million m³/day /9,860
MGD) is located in the
Middle East and North Africa
(MENA). While desalination
in the MENA region is pro-
jected to grow continuously
at a rate of 7 to 9% per year,
Asia (e.g., China, India,
Singapore, Iran), US and
Latin America are expected
to become “hot spots” for
accelerated desalination
project development and
implementation in the next 5
to 10 years.
Today, the desalination
plants provide approximate-
ly 1% of World’s drinking
water supply and this per-
centage is increasing by the
year. Over USD 10 billion of
investment in the next five
years would add 5.7 million
cubic meters per day of new
production capacity. This
capacity is expected to dou-
ble by year 2030.
Two basic types of tech-
nologies have been widely
used to date to separate
salts from ocean water:
thermal evaporation and
membrane separation. In
the last 10 years, seawater
desalination using semi-per-
meable Sea Water Reverse
Osmosis (SWRO) mem-
branes have gained momen-
tum and currently domi-
nates desalination markets
outside of the Middle
Eastern region where ther-
mal evaporation is still the
desalination technology of
choice mainly due to access
to lower-cost fuel and tradi-
tional use of facilities co-
generating power and water.
SWRO Membrane Technol-
ogy Trends
Developments in seawa-
ter RO desalination technol-
ogy during the past two
decades, combined with
transition to construction of
large capacity plants, co-
location with power plant
generation facilities and
enhanced competition by
using Build-Own-Operate-
Transfer (BOOT) method of
project delivery have result-
EXPRESS WATER

ed in a dramatic decrease of
the cost of desalinated
water.
One of the key factors
that contributed to the dra-
matic decrease of cost of
seawater desalination is the
advancement of the SWRO
membrane technology.
Today’s high-productivity
membrane elements are
designed with features to
yield more fresh water per
membrane element. These
features are: (1) Higher sur-
face area, and (2) Denser
membrane packing.
Increasing active membrane
leaf surface area allows to
gain significant productivity
using the same size (diame-
ter) membrane element.
Newest membrane ele-
ments provide flexibility and
choice, and allow trading
productivity and
pressure/power costs. The
same water product quality
goals can be achieved either
by: a) reducing the system
f o o t p r i n t /c o n s t r u c t i o n
costs by designing the sys-
tem at higher productivity,
or by b) reducing the system
overall power demand by
using more membrane ele-
ments, designing the sys-
tem at lower flux and recov-
ery, and taking advantage of
newest energy recovery
technologies which further
minimize energy use if the
system is operated at lower
(35 to 45 %) recoveries.
The Quest for Lower Energy
Use Continues
Energy is one of the
largest expenditures associ-
ated with seawater desalina-
tion. Advances in the tech-
nology and equipment
allowing to recover and
reuse the energy applied for
seawater desalination have
resulted in reduction of 80%
of the energy used for water
production over the last 20
years. Today, the energy
needed to produce fresh
water from seawater for one
household per year (~2,000
kW/yr) is less than that used
by the household’s refriger-
ator.
EXPRESS WATER
While the quest to lower
energy use is continuing,
there are physical limitations
to how low the energy
demand could go using
reverse osmosis desalina-
tion. The main limiting fac-
tors are the osmotic pressure
that would need to be over-
come to separate the salts
from the seawater and the
amount of water that could
be recovered from a cubic
meter of seawater before
membrane separation
process is hindered by salt
scaling on the membrane
surface and the service sys-
tems. This theoretical limit
for the entire seawater
desalination plant is approxi-
mately 1.2 kWh/m³.
Future Desalination Technol-
ogy Advances
Over the past 30 years,
both thermal and SWRO
membrane desalination
technologies and equip-
ment have evolved towards
reduction of the costs and
energy used for production
of fresh drinking water from
seawater.
Advances of Conventional
Thermal Desalination
Technologies
At present, thermal
desalination technologies
such as MSF, MED and VC
are well proven and mature.
Although thermal desalina-
tion technologies were intro-
duced in the MENA region
over 50 years ago, these
technologies have evolved
mainly in the direction of
gradual enhancements of
equipment and system
design, configuration, scale
formation control, and
materials. The latest MSF
and MED thermal desalina-
tion systems are highly effi-
cient, and have energy use
well within 30% of the theo-
retical minimum of energy
needed for production of
fresh water by evaporation.
Dramatic improvements
of existing conventional
thermal desalination tech-
nologies are not expected in
the near or more distant
future. The main directions
of potential future improve-
ments are:
• Cost-effective application
of source seawater soften-
ing via membrane nanofil-
tration or other pre-treat-
ment technologies in order
to remove calcium and
magnesium compounds in
the source seawater that
cause scaling on the inter-
nal walls of the equipment,
evaporation vessels and
piping of thermal desalina-
tion plants. Mineral scaling
results in the reduction in
operational temperature,
thermal process inefficien-
cy and loss of productivity
over time.
• Development of new gener-
ation of advanced scale
control additives to improve
efficiency and productivity
of thermal desalination
technologies. Such addi-
tives will be biodegradable
to minimize the environ-
mental impact of the desali-
nation plant discharge.
• Development of individual
evaporation units of larger
capacity, especially for
MED systems, in order to
gain further cost savings
due to economies of scale.
• Implementation of higher
performance brine-recircu-
lation designs for MSF
units, which allow increase
the overall desalination
plant recovery.
• Shift to lower-cost (plastic)
and lower corrosion mate-
rials (duplex stainless
steel, titanium and alu-
minum brass) to reduce
plant O&M costs.
• Replacing shell and tube
units with plate evapora-
tors in MED plants to
improve evaporator pro-
ductivity and reduce ener-
gy use.
• Implementation of absorp-
tion heat pumps and alter-
native VC processes in
MED plants for improved
energy efficiency.
It should be pointed out that
despite the fact that poten-
tial for future incremental
improvements in the efficien-
cy of various thermal desali-
WATER LEADERS
nation exists, such improve-
ments are not likely to pro-
duce further reduction in the
cost of water produced by
thermal desalination which
his higher than 10 to 15%.
Advances of Conventional
RO Desalination
Technologies
A large SWRO desalina-
tion plant usually has thou-
sands of membrane ele-
ments connected into a
highly automated and effi-
cient water treatment sys-
tem, which typically pro-
duces 1 cubic meter of fresh
water from approximately
2.0 to 2.5 cubic meters of
seawater. The membrane
productivity, energy use, salt
separation efficiency, cost of
production and durability of
the membrane elements by
large determine the cost of
the desalinated water.
Technological and produc-
tion improvements in all of
these areas over the past
two decades are now ren-
dering desalination by
SWRO more competitive
than thermal desalination.
Membrane productivity –
i.e. the amount of water that
can be produced by one
membrane element, has
increased over two times in
the last twenty years.
The future improvements
of the RO membrane desali-
nation technology are fore-
casted to encompass:
• Development of mem-
branes of even higher salt
and pathogen rejection, and
productivity; and reduced
trans-membrane pressure,
and fouling potential
• Improvement of RO mem-
brane resistance to oxi-
dants, elevated tempera-
ture and compaction
• Extension of membrane
useful life beyond 10 years
• Integration of membrane
pre-treatment, advanced
energy recovery and SWRO
systems
• Integration of brackish and
seawater desalination sys-
tems
• Development of new gen-
eration of high-efficiency
pumps and energy recov-
ery systems for SWRO
applications
• Replacement of key stain-
less steel desalination
plant components with
plastic components to
increase plant longevity
and decrease overall cost
of water production.
• Reduction of membrane
element costs by complete
automation of the entire
production and testing
process
• Development of methods
for low-cost continuous
membrane cleaning which
allow to reduce downtime
and chemical cleaning
costs
• Development for methods
for low-cost membrane
concentrate treatment, in-
plant and off-site reuse,
and disposal.
These technology
advances are expected to
ascertain the position of
SWRO treatment as most
cost-competitive processes
for potable water produc-
tion worldwide and to
reduce the cost of desalinat-
ed water by 20% in the next
five years.
Emerging Desalination Tech-
nologies with High Cost Re-
duction Potential
The Nano-structured
Membranes
A recent trend in the
quest for lowering the ener-
gy use for SWRO desalina-
tion is the development of
nanostructured (NST) RO
membranes, which provide
more efficient water trans-
port as compared to existing
conventional thin-film mem-
brane elements. Nano-
structured membranes hold
the greatest potential to
cause a quantum leap in
desalination cost reduction
because theoretically, they
can produce up to 20 times
more fresh water from the
same membrane surface
area, than the state-of-the-
art SWRO membranes com-
mercially available on the
market at present. Such dra-
December, 2017 57
 COVER STORY
matic decrease in the mem-
brane surface area needed
to produce the same volume
of desalinated water could
reduce the physical size and
construction costs of mem-
brane desalination plants
over two times and bring
this cost of production of
desalinated water produc-
tion to the level of that of
conventional water treat-
ment technologies.
Forward Osmosis (FO)
In forward (direct) osmo-
sis a solution with osmotic
pressure higher than that of
the high-salinity source
water (“draw solution”) is
used to separate fresh water
from the source water
through a membrane.
Several companies such as
Oasys, Modern Water,
Hydration Technology
Innovation, and Trevi
Systems have developed
commercially available FO
membrane desalination
technologies, which to date
have only found application
for treatment of waste-
waters from oil and gas
industry. The Trevi systems
FO technology is of potential
interest because it uses
draw solution that can be
reused applying solar power
- it is the main innovative
technology considered for
the ongoing solar power
driven desalination research
led by Masdar in UAE. The
main potential benefit of the
development of commercial-
ly viable FO technologies for
production of desalinated
water is the reduction of the
overall energy needed for
fresh water production by 20
to 35%. Such energy reduc-
Parameter for Best-in Class Desalination Plants
Cost of Water (USD/m³)
Construction Cost (USD/MLD)
Electrical Energy Use (kWh/m³)
Membrane Productivity
(m³/membrane)
58 December, 2017
tion could yield cost of water
reduction of 10 to 15%.
Membrane Distillation
(MD)
In membrane distillation
water vapor is transported
between “hot” saline stream
and “cool” fresh water
stream separated by a
hydrophobic membrane. The
transport of water vapor
through the membrane
relies on a small tempera-
ture difference between the
two streams. Currently, MD
enjoys a fairly high academic
interest because of its very
high recovery (as compared
to RO) and lower energy use
(as compared to convention-
al thermal evaporation tech-
nologies). The main cost
savings that can result from
the application of this tech-
nology for large-scale desali-
nation plants is lowering the
cost of fresh water produc-
tion from highly saline sea-
waters such as these of the
Arabian Gulf and the Red
Sea and the costs for con-
centrate management and
disposal for brackish desali-
nation plants by 15 to 20%.
Dewvaporation
Similar to other thermal
evaporation processes, dew-
vaporation would be cost
competitive to conventional
RO desalination only if free
or low-cost waste heat is
readily available. Such
process holds promise for
small-scale applications in
combination with renewable
solar power source. The the-
oretical cost reduction, such
technology could yield is 15
to 25% of the cost of state-
of-the-art thermal evapora-
tion technologies used at
present. The full-scale
implementation of such
technology at large-scale
desalination installations
however is at least 8 to 10
years away.
The Electrochemical
Desalination
Developed by Evoqua
(formerly Siemens) under a
Challenge Grant from the
Government of Singapore,
this continuous electro-
chemical desalination
process is based on combi-
nation of ultrafiltration pre-
treatment, electrodialysis
(ED) and continuous elec-
trodeionization (CEDI) and
is claimed to desalinate sea-
water to drinking water
quality at only 1.5 kWh per
cubic meter (5.7 kWh/1,000
gallons). This energy con-
sumption is lower than the
energy use of conventional
SWRO desalination sys-
tems. The new process is
currently under full-scale
development and at the
Singapore Water Hub. The
process operates at low
pressure (40 to 50 psi), the
equipment can be produced
from plastic, and the mem-
branes used for ED and
CEDI are chlorine resistant.
The potential reduction of
desalinated water costs this
technology can yield is 5 to
15%.
Capacitive Deionization
(CDI)
This technology uses ion
transport from saline water
to electrodes of high ion
retention capacity, which
transport is driven by a
small voltage gradient. The
technology holds promise
because it could theoretical-
Year 2016
0.8 - 1.2
1.2 - 2.2
3.5 - 4.0
28 - 47
ly reduce the physical size
and capital costs of desali-
nation plants with over
30%. Current carbon elec-
trode technology however
limits salt removal to only 70
to 80%, uses approximately
two times more energy than
conventional RO systems
and is subject to high elec-
trode cleaning costs due to
organic fouling.
Biomimetric Membranes
with Aquaporin Structure
Development of mem-
branes with structure and
function similar to these of
the membranes of living
organisms (i.e., diatoms) may
offer the ultimate break-
through for low-energy
desalination (specific energy
use below 2.0 kWh/1,000 gal-
lons). In these membranes
water molecules are trans-
ferred through the mem-
branes through a series of
low-energy enzymatic reac-
tions instead of by osmotic
pressure.
Currently, researchers at
the US, Singapore and
Australia are focusing on
advanced research in the field
of biomimetic membranes.
Although this research field is
expected to ultimately yield
high-reward benefits (e.g.,
overall desalinated water cost
reduction with over 100%),
currently it is in early stages
of development.
Potential Impact of Future
Technologies on Costs
The advance of desalina-
tion technology is closest in
dynamics to that of the
computer technology. While
conventional technologies,
such as sedimentation and
Within 5 Years
0.6 - 1.0
1.0 - 1.8
2.8 - 3.2
35 - 55
filtration have seen modest
advancement since their ini-
tial use for potable water
treatment several centuries
ago, new more efficient
desalination membranes,
innovative thermal, mem-
brane or hybrid desalination
technologies, and equip-
ment improvements are
released every several years.
Similar to computers, the
SWRO membranes of today
are many times smaller,
more productive and cheap-
er than the first working pro-
totypes. Although, no major
technology breakthroughs
are expected to bring the
cost of seawater desalina-
tion further down dramati-
cally in the next several
years, the steady reduction
of desalinated water pro-
duction costs coupled with
increasing costs of water
treatment driven by more
stringent regulatory require-
ments, are expected to
accelerate the current trend
of increased reliance on the
ocean as an attractive and
competitive water source.
This trend is forecasted to
continue in the future and to
further establish ocean
water desalination as a reli-
able drought-proof alterna-
tive for many coastal com-
munities worldwide.
These technology
advances are expected to
ascertain the position of
SWRO treatment as viable
and cost-competitive
processes for potable water
production and to reduce
the cost of desalinated water
by 20% in the next 5 years
and by up to 60% in the next
20 years (Table 1).
Within 20 Years
0.3 - 0.5
0.5 - 0.9
2.1 - 2.4
95 - 120
EXPRESS WATER
 MARKET
POSTEVENT
IFATIndia 2017
The core issue at the 3-day fair was how technology can help master the high volumes of
waste & wastewater and the impact of extreme weather on the subcontinent.
By Mayur Sharma
Express Water View
The layout of the exhibition floor
at IFAT was different this year, with
a big addition of floor space to the
main exhibition hall.
This indicates the success of
event organizers in increasing the
number of exhibitors and pavilions.
We saw companies operating in
the wastewater management seg-
ment present in good number with
their latest products and project
highlights on display.
Visitor traffic seemed very good
and steady on all three days of the
show, and most exhibiting compa-
nies shared with us that they were
pleased with the outcome.
The quality of event was evident
in its infrastructure as well overall
branding of the show.
The rouble-table discussion of
industry leaders was a visible suc-
cess.
The conference sessions and
concurrent presentation forums
could have more speakers next
year, though overall agenda of the
conference was impressive
enough.
60 December, 2017
The Event
2017 was the fifth anniversary of
IFAT in India, and this year the show
was indeed more successful.
According to the organizers,
6765 visitors took part in the trade
fair for environmental technolo-
gies.
The core issue at the 3-day fair
was how technology can help mas-
ter the high volumes of waste &
“
It is time for action and to
put environmental
protection at the top of the
political agenda.We
participated in IFAT India
because we seek change,
and this trade fair was the
perfect platform for that.
Vijay Shivtare
Minister for Water Resources and Water
Conservation, Maharashtra
wastewater and the impact of
extreme weather on the subconti-
nent.
On show, in Mumbai, were tai-
lored solutions for the Indian mar-
ket.
The event was held at the
Bombay Convention and Exhibition
Centre, Goregaon from 26-28
September, 2017 in 8,100 square
meters of exhibition space.
It brought together local and
international representatives from
associations, state governments,
industry leaders and leading com-
panies to discuss challenges and
solutions in the water, sewage,
refuse and recycling sectors.
Chief Guest & Industry Leaders
IFAT India 2017 was inaugurated
by Vijay Shivtare (Water Minister of
Maharashtra), Ajay Mathur
(Director General TERI - The Energy
and Resources Institute), Ann
Ollestad (Consul General, The
Royal Norwegian Embassy), Ulrika
Sundberg (Sweden Consul
General), and Roland Knitschky
(German Association for Water,
Wastewater and Waste - DWA)
apart from industry players.
During his visit, Vijay Shivtare,
Minister for Water Resources and
Water Conservation of the Indian
State Maharashtra, said: “It is time
for action and to put environmental
protection at the top of the political
agenda. We participated in IFAT
India because we seek change, and
this trade fair was the perfect plat-
form for that.”
IFAT India is now becoming
country’s leading trade fair for
water, wastewater, waste and recy-
cling.
The trade show provided a good
interactive platform to industry
experts, policy makers and busi-
ness leaders alike to discuss
regional strategies on numerous
environmental challenges and seek
solutions through formal interac-
tions.
Exhibitors
IFAT India 2017 saw over 184
participants from 18 countries at
EXPRESS WATER
 MARKET
the event this year.
Some of the top participants
included water & wastewater com-
panies like L&T, Thermax, Ion
Exchange, Ramky, Aqseptance
Group, Endress+Hauser, Excel,
Kirloskar Brothers, Kishor Pumps,
Tata Projects, Wilo, Siemens,
Lanxess, Astral Poly, Xylem, CRI
Pumps, LG Chem, Wipro Water, etc.
China, Germany, Austria and
Switzerland were the international
country pavilions that were fea-
tured in this edition.
Apart from the new exhibitors,
there were also many companies
that have participated since the
very first IFAT India in 2013.
N.D. Mundhe, Chief Manager of
Excel Industries, was one of them:
“We have taken part in all five edi-
tions of IFAT India so far. For us
each year this fair is highly prof-
itable, but this year most particu-
larly so.”
Philippe Anstotz, Executive
Sales Director at the Aqseptence
Group, looked equally delighted: “It
is impressive to see how strongly
the show has grown in the five
years since launch, and how the
quality has increased. It brings
together precisely the right audi-
ence under one roof. In future, too,
we will not be missing out on IFAT
India.”
In Demand: Efficient Water and
Waste Management
Bhupinder Singh, CEO of the
organizer Messe Muenchen India,
says, “The rise in visitor numbers -
an increase of 30 percent - was due
to the urgent environmental chal-
lenges that the Indian population is
currently facing. Following the seri-
EXPRESS WATER
ous water shortage of 2016, this
year an exceptionally strong mon-
soon led to catastrophic flooding in
large parts of India. Added to this is
the problem of waste blocking
water flow in the sewers. Modern
solutions for efficient management
of water and sewage, and also sus-
tainable recycling technologies,
were therefore in especially high
demand at IFAT India 2017.”
Technology and Knowledge Ex-
change Across Borders
Not only Indian exhibitors were
there at the Bombay Exhibition
Centre, in fact 54 percent of the
companies were international
brands - from 18 different coun-
tries.
Among the top exhibitor coun-
tries were - after India: Germany,
China, Switzerland, Austria, and the
US (in this order).
Christian Rocke, Exhibition
Group Director of IFAT at Messe
München, comments: “Especially in
the environmental sector, interna-
tional exchange and technology
transfer are necessary. Precisely
that was our goal when we brought
IFAT, the world´s leading environ-
mental trade fair, to Mumbai five
years ago. The high international
participation in IFAT India 2017 has
shown us that we clearly succeed-
ed in this.”
The trade fair witnessed techni-
cal presentations, panel discus-
sions and tutorials, where industry
experts - both from India and over-
seas - shared their knowledge with
the audience at the Innovation
Exchange.
There was also dedicated areas
for training, live demonstrations,
product presentations and skills
contests, running parallel to the
show.
Environmental Technologies
Conference
This conference took place for
the first time at IFAT India and was
organized by the think tank TERI -
The Energy and Resources
Institute. It focused on issues relat-
ed to Air Pollution, Solid Waste
Management and Urban Water
Management in the context of
Sustainable Development.
This edition also witnessed a
new initiative - Business to
Government Forum - which provid-
ed states an ideal platform to
announce new projects, to find
matching solutions for new tenders
and to inform participants about
the latest policies in the environ-
mental sector. Apart from industry
leaders, it also attracted high-rank-
ing government representatives,
municipal corporations and politi-
cal delegations.
Workshops & Concurrent Pro-
grams
Along with the trade exhibition,
IFAT India with its partners, concur-
rently organized some interactive
programs: Air Quality Management
Workshop by SDG (Sustainable
Development Goals Foundation),
Workshop on Entrepreneurship in
Waste Management by ISWA
(International Solid Waste
Association), Biogas Panel by GIZ,
German Biogas Association and
Indian Biogas Association, and
Water Skills Competition by Skill
Council for Green Jobs, GIZ and
DWA.
‘Active Learning Centre’ was a
platform introduced to the partici-
pants of IFAT India 2016 that was
continued in 2017. This was the
interactive element of the event. It
offered innovative ways to network
with both visitors and other experts
of the environmental technologies
sector.
The ‘Products in Practice’ ses-
sion provided exhibitors with an
interactive way to showcase their
product highlights. The innovations
were presented in a realistic work-
ing situation and impressed the vis-
itors with an eye-catching experi-
ence.
Organizer’s Opinion
On the conclusion of IFAT India
2017, Bhupinder Singh, CEO of
Messe Muenchen India, said, “India
has an immense potential for envi-
ronmental protection and waste
management.
Scarce water resources, rapid
industrialization, extensive agricul-
ture and enormous waste volumes
pose a great challenge to the coun-
try. Thus, the 5th edition of IFAT
India focussed on the latest
environmental issues and their
solutions.
IFAT India 2017 also provided a
platform for all the industry play-
ers, associations and government
representatives, to connect
through formal interactions. We
saw a great response from national
and international participants and
we hope to keep delivering a better
trade show every year.”
The next IFAT India will take
place from October 15 to 17, 2018 at
the Bombay Exhibition Centre in
Mumbai.
December, 2017 61
 MARKET
POSTEVENT
India Water Week 2017
The theme for the fifth edition of India Water Week was ‘Water and Energy for Sustainable
Growth’.
By Mayur Sharma
The President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind at the inauguration of the India Water Week 2017. The Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development
and Ganga Rejuvenation, Nitin Gadkari; the Union Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation, Sushri Uma Bharti; the Minister of State for Water
Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Arjun Ram Meghwal and the Minister of State for Water Resources, River Development and
Ganga Rejuvenation, Dr. Satya Pal Singh are also seen.
Express Water View
The inaugural function
and conference was well
organized at Vigyan
Bhawan from 10-14 October
2017, and the B2B exhibi-
tion (India Water Expo
2017), for around 42 water
& wastewater companies
and national and state-level
government representa-
tives, was organized in a
hanger at Indira Gandhi
National Centre of Arts, sit-
uated near Vigyan Bhawan.
While the presence of
cabinet ministers and key
government officials, and
more focus by the organiz-
ers on the conference has
always been a highlight of
the India Water Week, the
overall event still seems to
be a work-in-progress.
The visitor presence was
good on the first day of the
exhibition, due of less num-
ber of exhibitors and last
week change in the venue
62 December, 2017
of the exhibition ground,
overall it was less than
expected.
According to the organ-
izers, about 1300 delegates
including 50 delegates
from 14 countries attended
the 5-day event. About 150
papers were presented and
17 technical seminars and
14 panel discussions were
held during the event.
The Event
This year, the India Water
Week’s theme was ‘water
and energy for inclusive
growth’ and the event will
have the following major
components: Water, food
and energy security -
essential requirement for
sustainable development;
Water for inclusive growth;
Sustainable energy devel-
opment - key for all-round
economic growth; and
water and society.
European Union was the
International Partner of the
event.
In order to establish an
impactful international
event focused on water
resources of India, the
Ministry of Water
Resources, River
Development and Ganga
Rejuvenation, Government
of India has been organizing
India Water Week since
2012 as an annual interna-
tional event. Four editions
of India Water Week have
been organized so far in
2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016.
Exhibitors & Visitors
Around 42 exhibitors
were present in the exhibi-
tion area. While the total
exhibition area was around
2400 sq mtr, the allotted
area to exhibitors was 1055
sq mtr. Companies like DHI
India, Jain Irrigation,
Netafim, Tata Projects,
Aaxis Nano, CH2M Hill,
Mecharronics were present
to showcase their products
and services. There was a
stall represented by Spain
as well at the expo. Other
organizations like WAPCOS,
NMCG, CWC, IWMI,
NABARD, NPCC, NEERI,
ISRO, NWDA, IRD Pune,
CGWB, and NIH Roorkee
were also present.
Inaugural Function
The President of India,
Shri Ram Nath Kovind,
inaugurated India Water
Week on October 10th, 2017
in New Delhi. Among the
dignitaries present on the
occasion were Union
Minister for the Water
Resources, River
Development and Ganga
Rejuvenation, Nitin
Gadkari; Union Minister for
Drinking Water and
Sanitation, Sushri Uma
Bharti; Minister of State for
Water Resources, River
Development and Ganga
Rejuvenation, Shri Arjun
Ram Meghwal; and Minister
of State for Water
Resources, River
Development & Ganga
Rejuvenation, Dr. Satya Pal
Singh.
Speaking on the occa-
sion, the President said that
currently, 80 percent of
water in India is used by
agriculture and only 15 per-
cent by industry. In the
coming years, this ratio will
EXPRESS WATER
 MARKET
change. The total demand
for water will also rise.
Efficiency of water use and
reuse, therefore, has to be
built into the blueprint of
industrial projects. He said
that in urban India, 40 bil-
lion litres of wastewater is
produced every day. It is
vital to adopt technology to
reduce the toxic content of
this water, and to deploy it
for irrigation and other pur-
poses. This has to be part of
any urban planning pro-
gramme.
The President urged a
water management
approach that is localized.
He stated that it should
empower village and neigh-
bourhood communities and
build their capacity to man-
age, allocate and value their
water resources. Any 21st
century water policy must
factor in the concept of the
value of water. The
President said that the gov-
ernment has prepared a
strategic plan for ensuring
drinking water supply in all
rural areas by 2022, when
India complete 75 years of
Independence. By that year,
the goal is to cover 90 per-
cent of rural households
with piped water supply. We
cannot fail.
EXPRESS WATER
Speaking on the occa-
sion, Union Minister of
Water Resources, River
Development and Ganga
Rejuvenation, Nitin Gadkari
said that 27 PMKSY proj-
ects will be completed by
this year. He said that 285
new irrigation projects will
be taken up by next year to
provide irrigation for 1 crore
88 lakh hectare of land. He
said that the government is
keen to provide safe drink-
ing water to every house-
hold and irrigation water for
every farm. In this connec-
tion, he referred to the
recent inauguration of
Sardar Sarovar Project by
the Prime Minister, which
will provide water to over 4
crore people and help irri-
gate over 8 lakh hectares of
land.
Gadkari further said that
Inter linking of rivers is very
important to save people
from floods and droughts.
He said 30 Projects for river
linking have been approved
out of which work on three
projects namely Ken-
Betwa, Par- Tapi Narmada
and Daman Ganga Pinjal
will start within three
months. The minister said
that the government is
exploring the possibility of
“
Around 285 new
irrigation projects
will be taken up by
next year to provide
irrigation for 1 crore
88 lakh hectare of
land. 27 irrigation
projects will be
completed by the
end of this year. 30
projects related to
inter-linking of rivers
have also been
identified - they
require huge
investments.
Nitin Gadkari
Union Minister for Water
Resources, River Development
& Ganga Rejuvenation
creating a large fund for
inter liking of rivers. He said
that new ways have to be
found for use of treated
wastewater. He said that he
has requested the Power
Minister to explore the pos-
sibility of using recycled
water for NTPC power
plants. He emphasized the
need for inventing innova-
tive methods for using
70% of river water which
goes into seas.
Union Minister for
Drinking and Water
Sanitation Sushri Uma
Bharti in her address said
that Government is sincere-
ly working to make avail-
able safe drinking water to
every household of the
country and irrigation facili-
ty for every farm by 2022.
She said, “It is a matter of
grave concern that ground
water level is going down
critically. We have misused
and abused ground water.
We will have to respect
water, rivers and ground
water and make our rivers
Aviral and Nirmal.”
Union Minister of State
for Water Resources, River
Development and Ganga
Rejuvenation Arjun Ram
Meghwal said that 112 dis-
tricts in the country have
less than 20% irrigation
coverage and time bound
actions are needed to meet
the challenges of water
scarcity and flood manage-
ment. The Minister said
that the government has
proposed National Ground
Water Management
improvement scheme, a
world bank backed Rs.
6,000 crore scheme, for
sustainable management
of ground water.
Valedictory Session
Addressing the valedic-
tory session of IWW on 14th
October 2017, the Union
Agriculture and Farmers’
Welfare Minister Radha
Mohan Singh said that the
present government has
achieved unparalleled suc-
cess in the field of micro
irrigation. Mr. Singh said
that 8 lakh hact. of land was
brought under micro irriga-
tion during 2016-17. The tar-
get for 2017-18 is 12 lakh
hact. Referring to Pradhan
Mantri Krishi Sinchayi
Yojana, the Minister said
out of the 99 projects 23
are on the verge of comple-
tion. He informed that
another 32 PMKSY project
will be completed by March
next year and the remaining
by 2019.
A mobile app prepared
by Central Water
Commission, containing
various information about
water resources of the
country, was also launched
on the occasion.
“
Currently, 80
percent of water in
India is used by
agriculture and only
15 percent by
industry. In the
coming years, this
ratio will change.
Efficiency of water
use and reuse,
therefore, has to be
built into the
blueprint of
industrial projects.
Business and
industry need to be a
part of the solution.
Ram Nath Kovind
President of India
December, 2017 63
 MARKET

MARKETREPORTS
GLOBALWATER & WASTEWATER TREATMENT MARKETTO REACH USD 674.72 BILLION BY 2025
THE GLOBAL WATER & waste-
water treatment market is expect-
ed to reach USD 674.72 billion by
2025, driven by the rising demand
for freshwater for drinking, indus-
trialization and agriculture, as per a
new report done by Hexa Research.
Treated water is suitable for var-
ious end-uses such as river flow
maintenance, drinking, the supply
of industrial water and irrigation.
Water & wastewater treatment
processes such as softening,
deodorization and purification
make the water more useful and
potable. Asia Pacific was the largest
market accounting for 43.9% of the
revenue share in 2016. It is antici-
pated to gain momentum over the
forecast period on account of grow-
ing demand for filtered water for
various applications.
Water treatment systems are
either installed at the point of use
or the point of entry. However, as
drinking water is a vital priority for
population, residential sector con-
tributes significantly towards the
development of water treatment
market as compared to industrial
and commercial sector.
Central & South America water
& wastewater industry is capable,
but absence of significant venture
in infrastructure is unfavorable for
its economic performance. Asia
Pacific municipal water & waste-
water market is likely to grow at a
CAGR of 5.3% over the forecast
period. This market has been rapid-
ly growing owing to presence of
developing economies and a large
concentration of population in the
region. Asia Pacific’s vast and rising
population, coupled with increasing
middle class and rising incomes,
will continue to drive demand agri-
cultural resources and commodi-
ties.
The global equipment & services
market accounted for USD 117.85
billion in 2016.
The growth of equipment & serv-
ices market is likely to gain momen-
tum in recent future, as it utilizes
environment-friendly and economi-
cally feasible instruments and tech-
nologies. Major players in flow con-
trol services are acquiring firms in
the treatment market.

GLOBALWATER DESALINATION MARKET SETTO REACH WATER TREATMENTCHEMICALS

USD 26.81 BILLION BY 2025
THE GLOBAL WATER
desalination market is set
to reach USD 26.81 billion
by 2025, primarily driven by
rapid industrialization,
increasing population, and
depleting freshwater bod-
ies, as per a new report
done by Hexa Research.
Moreover, increasing public
awareness regarding water
conservation and strict gov-
ernment laws on treatment
is expected to fuel growth.
Recycled wastewater is
widely used in landscaping
and irrigation. The Middle
East & Africa was the
largest market accounting
for 53% of revenue share in
2016, and is expected to
maintain its dominance
over the forecast period on
account of high supply-
demand gap of potable
water.
Global warming has
resulted in accelerating
evaporation of water bodies
which eventually has led to
droughts in numerous parts
of world. For instance, U.S
and Middle East & Africa
have been affected
adversely by severe multi-
year and multi-state
droughts over past few
years.
Countries such as U.S.
MARKETTO GROWAT6% CAGR BY2022
and Saudi Arabia are focus-
ing on existing projects,
instead of commencing
new projects. The North
America desalination mar-
ket is expected to grow at
an 8.6% CAGR over next
few years on account of ris-
ing number of natural
calamities which are result-
ing in depriving its popula-
tion & industries of water.
Traditionally, thermal
desalination has been one
of the most reliable tech-
niques for water purifica-
tion. Multi-stage flash distil-
lation can produce purer
water to which minerals are
added to enhance taste of
water. The market for multi-
stage filtration is expected
to grow at an 8.4% CAGR
during forecast period
owing to its high purity yield
compared to reverse osmo-
sis.
Reverse osmosis is
expected to witness the
fastest growth on account
of its lower energy con-
sumption rates. Rising need
for pure water in chemical
and food industries is pro-
jected to boost market for
reverse osmosis over the
forecast period and is esti-
mated to be worth USD
15.43 billion by 2025.
Seawater contributed to
58.2% of the revenue share
in 2016, making it the
largest and the trend is
expected to continue over
the projected period. Rapid
industrialization and sub-
stantial investments
regarding desalination in
Middle East is anticipated
to drive global market over
the next few years.
Companies are investing
extensively in R&D to
enhance technology. For
instance, in April 2014, GE
Corporation launched an
open technology challenge
to accelerate the develop-
ment of technology to
improve efficiency of sea-
water desalination.
In addition to this, the
companies are concentrat-
ing on new projects. For
instance, in November
2014, Suez announced con-
struction, design and oper-
ation of a desalination plant
at new Mirfa Independent
Water and Power Project in
Abu Dhabi. Furthermore,
Veolia has developed itself
in both Multiple Effect
Distillation and Reverse
Osmosis to offer energy-
efficient hybrid desalina-
tion technology to mark its
presence in global market.
THE WATER TREATMENT
chemicals market is fore-
casted to reach USD 56.57
billion by 2022 from USD
42.23 billion in 2017 at a
CAGR of 6.0% during
(2017-2022) driven by
increasing use of water
treatment chemicals in var-
ious end-use industries to
cater to growing demand
for chemically treated qual-
ity water at low costs, rising
Gross Domestic Product
(GDP), growing global pop-
ulation, increasing public
awareness about reuse of
wastewater, improving eco-
nomic conditions, and
increasing number of new
discoveries in oil & gas sec-
tor according to a new
report done by
RnRMarketResearch.
The Asia-Pacific water
treatment chemicals mar-
ket is projected to grow at
the highest CAGR in terms
of both value as well as vol-
ume. Growing number of
automotive worldwide,
increasing global popula-
tion, rapid urbanization,
increasing scope of explo-
ration of oil & gas and their
production, easy availability
of low-cost labour, and
affordable raw material
prices in Asia-Pacific region
are the factors fueling
growth of water treatment
chemicals market during
the forecast period.
China led the Asia-
Pacific water treatment
chemicals market in terms
of volume in 2016. The
growth of China water
treatment chemicals mar-
ket can be attributed to
increase in consumption of
water treatment chemicals
in the country. This
increased consumption of
water treatment chemicals
in China is a result of rising
population, increasing oil &
gas exploration and pro-
duction activities, increas-
ing power generation, and
growing mining industry in
the country.
Based on type, biocides
& disinfectants segment of
water treatment chemicals
market is projected to grow
at the highest CAGR during
forecast period in terms of
value.
Another research, titled
Flocculant and Coagulant
Market Global Forecast to
2022 says that the global
flocculant and coagulant
market is projected to
reach USD 6.01 billion by
2022, at a CAGR of 5.9%
from 2017 to 2022.

64 December, 2017 EXPRESS WATER

 CASE STUDY
Accurate Dosing Pumps Enable Welsh Water
to Maintain Strict Phosphorus Limits
The investment is expected to achieve a quick return thanks to the significant savings in
maintenance associated with stripping down and cleaning the diaphragm pumps.
By Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group (WMFTG)
TO HELP OVERCOME the
repeated blockage of
diaphragm pumps when
dosing ferric sulphate at
waste water treatment
plants, a number of Welsh
Water sites now feature
Qdos 30 peristaltic pumps
from Watson-Marlow Fluid
Technology Group. The
investment is expected to
achieve a quick return
thanks to significant sav-
ings in maintenance associ-
ated with stripping down
and cleaning diaphragm
pumps. Moreover, Qdos
pumps are helping Welsh
Water meet increasingly
strict phosphorus limits.
With ever-tightening
Water Framework Directive
(WFD) standards, phospho-
rus limits are under close
scrutiny. WFD Directive
2000/60/EC demands
that rivers, lakes, coastal
waters and groundwater be
in a "good ecological and
chemical condition" by
2027. Excessive nutrients
such as phosphorus in the
watercourse work against
this aim as they lead to
excessive algal growth and
eutrophication (a form of
water pollution). To reduce
EXPRESS WATER
the ingress of phosphorus
through municipal waste-
water treatment plants,
chemical coagulation is
required. The addition of a
coagulant such as ferric
sulphate converts the phos-
phate solution into insolu-
ble phosphate compounds
which can then be isolated.
The continuous dosing
of ferric sulphate at water
treatment works requires
application of reliable, high
performance pumps. For
Welsh Water, the traditional
pump type of choice has
been based on diaphragm
technology. However, this
has had its issues.
Blocked Diaphragm Pumps
“Our diaphragm pumps
were blocking on a repeti-
tive basis,” explains Ronnie
Swain, Process Technician
at Welsh Water. “Almost
every time I visited one of
our sites, there would be
problems with diaphragm
pumps. We would start off
by turning them up to
achieve same flow, but
eventually we’d have little
option but to get our main-
tenance team involved to
open up the pumps and
remove blockage. However,
this obviously involves time
and cost, and it was hap-
pening year-round.
Diaphragm pumps have a
lot of components, such as
non-return valves and
springs, which can clog. We
had to carry a whole array
of replacement parts in
stock. It was clearly time to
look for another solution.”
Having witnessed the
benefits of peristaltic pump
technology first hand when
a Qdos model was recently
installed at Welsh Water’s
Eign plant in Hereford for
the back-end dosing of
polyaluminium chloride at
12 l/h, the company
thought this might also be a
good solution for front-end
ferric sulphate dosing.
Initially, Welsh Water
opted to install a Qdos 120
pump for dosing ferric sul-
phate at its Rotherwas
wastewater treatment plant
in Hereford. Here, the pump
has been set to work oper-
ating at a flow rate of 50-60
l/h. However, Qdos pumps
are reliable at flows as low
as 0.1 l/min. "The difference
compared with the
diaphragm pump was
noticeable from the begin-
ning,” says Mr Swain. “Since
installing the Qdos pump,
we have not had any more
problems with blockages.”
Success Prompts More
Qdos Orders
Such was the success of
the Qdos pump, that two
more have since been duly
installed at Welsh Water’s
Ross-on-Wye wastewater
treatment plant - one as the
duty pump and one on
standby. These pumps run
at a much lower flow rate of
8 l/h. Designed as a drop-in
replacement to diaphragm
pumps, Qdos peristaltic
metering pumps offer long
maintenance intervals,
reducing the impact of
process downtime and low-
ering total cost of owner-
ship. They also cut chemical
cost through higher accura-
cy (±1%) metering. In short,
peristaltic pumps enable
tighter WFD targets for
phosphate levels.
“Phosphorus is already
limited to 1 or 1.25 mg/l, but
the expectation within
industry is that it will soon
become even stricter,” says
Mr Swain. “Obviously we are
dosing ferric sulphate,
which means we also have
to be careful that we don’t
fail on iron levels. This bal-
ance means we need
pumps that work reliably
and correctly on a continu-
ous 24/7 basis.”
Environmental
Responsibility
The Environment Agency
takes samples from Welsh
Water plants such as
Rotherwas and Ross-on-
Wye 12 times a year, check-
ing for phosphorus, iron,
ammonia, solids and more.
“We have a responsibility
to ensure delivery to our
watercourses is as good as
it can possibly be,” says Mr
Swain. “We’ve just done our
averages for 2016 and I’m
pleased to report that both
Rotherwas and Ross-on-
Wye are comfortably within
the required P-limits. Our
Qdos pumps have played a
significant part and Welsh
Water is now considering
adopting this technology at
further plants.”
An added advantage is
that Qdos pumps offer
reduced maintenance with
single, no-tools component
replacement. For Welsh
Water, maintenance time
with Qdos pumps is now
just a few minutes - where-
as clearing a blockage from
a diaphragm pump would
take more than an hour, and
would be required far more
frequently.
Qdos peristaltic pumps
are designed for dosing
with all types of coagulant,
regardless of their viscosity,
basicity, concentration and
flow rate. As only the hose
comes into contact with
medium, even highly corro-
sive and abrasive pumped
media presents no prob-
lems; the pump cannot con-
taminate pumped media, or
vice versa. Ultimately, with
no valves or seals to wear
out, clog or corrode, peri-
staltic pumps reduce the
burden of maintenance.
December, 2017 65
 CASE STUDY
Water Travels Mountainous Terrain
in a Steady Flow to the Power Plant
The project has recently been awarded as 'Project of the Year'.
By William Su, Singer Valve China
Pipeline form the Dock
THE NEWLY CON-
STRUCTED Zhijin power
plant in China’s Guizhou
province gets its water
from the Hongjiadu reser-
voir and transports it 8.1
km over mountainous ter-
rain with an approximate
Two Surge Anticipating Relief Valves on the Dock
66 December, 2017
elevation of 1150 meters.
The water first travels up to
a water treatment plant,
and then on to a water tank,
where supply can be con-
trolled before it is gravity
fed down to the plant. The
high lift and long distance
of this water distribution
system makes it vulnerable
to surges and pipe breaks.
The Design Institute
called on Singer Valve to
determine what technolo-
gies could be put in to place
to safely transport the
Booster Pump Control Valve
water and ensure a stable
flow of water regardless of
flow rates that vary accord-
ing to power production
needs.
The first stage involves
pumping water from a
floating dock and trans-
porting it by two DN600
pipelines to the water
treatment plant. To regu-
late surging when starting
or shutting down the pump,
two surge anticipating relief
valves were installed on the
dock.
These two valves can be
opened before the surge
comes and relieve the pres-
sure from the pipe. This is
especially important if
there is a power failure and
water rushes back down to
the pump station. An added
precaution to prevent
surges was to install air
valves on the pipeline to
release any trapped air
from the pipe.
After the water is treat-
ed, it is pumped to a water
tank. With a 340 meter
pump head, surge calcula-
tion determined need for a
control valve after pump
with a surge anticipating
relief valve mounted in a
tee, downstream of pump
check valve. This is
designed to anticipate
surges and avoid severe
water hammer often asso-
“
We knew it was going
to be very challenging
to transport the water
to the power plant
safely with the
elevations and
distance that it
needed to travel.
Singer’s surge
anticipating plan and
quality valves gave us
the confidence to
complete this project.
Liu Zhizhao
Manager, Zhijin Power Plant,
China
EXPRESS WATER
 CASE STUDY
Pipeline from WTP to Water Tank
ciated with power failure
surges.
The Anticipating Relief
Valve with Flow Limiting on
Solenoid Valve Opening
(106-RPS-ET-HFL) was
selected to do the job. This
valve is a pilot operated
pressure relief valve
designed to open when the
inlet pressure exceeds a
predetermined setting. The
valve also opens when the
solenoid valve is energized.
When the solenoid valve
opens the valve, the maxi-
mum opening of the valve
can be limited. The solenoid
valve is typically energized
by a controller that senses
Flow Regulating Valves at Entry to Power Plant
EXPRESS WATER
power failure and/or low
header pressure and uses
battery power to energize
the solenoid valve for a
short adjustable period.
After the pump, there is
a pump control valve to
protect the pump, and also
to be used as a check valve
when the flow comes back.
The Booster Pump Control
Valve was installed after the
pump to prevent surging
during opening and closing
of the pump.
The water tank is 180
meters higher than the
power plant which makes
this final transportation
gravity fed via two DN600
pipelines over 6.3 km.
With this elevation and
distance a pressure reduc-
ing station was required in
the middle. The Design
Institute selected Singer’s
106-PR with an anti-cavita-
tion cage as the pressure
drop between intake and
outflow was greater than 3
to 1 ratio.
Cavitation consists of
rapid vaporization and con-
densation within a liquid.
When local pressure falls to
vapor pressure (approxi-
mately 0.25 psi / 0.018 bar
absolute for cold water),
vapor bubbles are formed
and when these bubbles
travel to an area of higher
pressure, the bubbles col-
lapse with phenomenal
force and great localized
stress.
It is the violent collapse
of these vapor bubbles near
valve components or down-
stream piping surfaces,
which cause cavitation
damage and subsequent
performance degradation.
Singer’s Anti-Cavitation
technology contains two
heavy stainless steel sliding
cages that maximize the
full flow capacity. The first
cage directs and contains
the cavitation recovery,
allowing it to dissipate
harmlessly.
While the second cage
allows further control to a
level as low as atmospheric
pressure downstream. The
cages are engineered to
meet the flow / pressure
differential of each applica-
tion.
After the pressure
reducing station, the water
flows in to the power plant
with one last flow regulat-
ing valve installed at the
entrance gate to ensure
stable flow and pressure.
“We knew it was going to
William Su is Technical Manager (head of technical support) at Singer
Valve, China and has been solving problems in the water industry for
over 10 years.
Pressure Reducing Valves on
Pipelines to Plant
be very challenging to
transport the water to the
power plant safely with the
elevations and distance
that it needed to travel”,
said Liu Zhizhao, Manager
of Zhijin Power Plant.
“Singer’s surge anticipating
plan and quality valves gave
us the confidence to com-
plete this project,” conclud-
ed Mr. Zhizhao.
The power plant has
capacity to produce
2X660MW that travels 150
km to power the city of
Guiyang and the surround-
ing communities. Zhijin
power plant employs
around 600 people.
The project was recently
awarded 'Project of the
Year' by Water & Waste
Digest.
December, 2017 67
 CASE STUDY
Municipal Water District Improves
Meter Reading Accuracy
A water utility in California uses FlexNet to better serve its growing customer base.
By Sensus
Too Many Meters, Not
Enough Time
For Eastern Municipal
Water District’s field techni-
cians, manually reading
148,000 meters across a
555 square mile service area
was a daunting task. They
spent their days traveling
around dry, drought stricken
Riverside County, California
to read each of utility’s
meters - only to find that
missing data limited the
organization's ability to
proactively review data and
provide customer service
options and updates that
help customers become
more efficient.
The time it took to gather
usage data was not most
frustrating aspect though.
“EMWD has a responsibility
to implement industry-lead-
ing technologies that create
an efficient environment and
empower customer to con-
serve water," said David
Gayneaux, manager, meter
services, Eastern Municipal
Water District (EMWD). “By
doing so, we are able to limit
water lost to leaks in an eco-
nomically responsible man-
ner." To provide their grow-
ing customer base with the
68 December, 2017
best possible service and
water for years to come, the
utility needed more accurate
data, fast.
Managing a Growing Popu-
lation
Headquartered in Perris,
California, EMWD provides
services to seven cities in
Riverside County and is
California’s sixth largest
water agency. With 795,000
individuals served and
counting, the Southern
California water provider is
quickly installing meters to
keep up with its expanding
customer base. In the past
four years alone, the utility
has installed more than
7,000 new residential and
commercial meters. With a
growing number of cus-
tomers to gather data from
each month and California's
ongoing drought creating
new regulatory challenges,
the organization needed to
conserve time and water.
Data Needed to Conserve
Resources
To increase efficiency,
EMWD invested in new
processes to read meters. To
conserve water, the utility
needed to monitor for high
usage patterns, identify
areas where customers
exceeded their water budg-
ets and detect leaks
throughout the system.
Without accurate data, it
was challenging to educate
consumers or spot leaks.
EMWD uses an alloca-
tion-based rate structure
that provides both indoor
and outdoor water budgets
to customers. By obtaining
additional data through its
smart water network, EMWD
was able to better track
water budget compliance
and to proactively assist
customers with leak detec-
tion.
Reaping Benefits with New
Technology
EMWD deployed Sensus
FlexNet® communication
network to improve opera-
tions and meet the needs of
growing population. The util-
ity now relies on FlexNet sys-
tem to read meters remote-
ly, a vast improvement over
manual reads. In fact, EMWD
reads more than 52,000
meters using Sensus tech-
nology.
In addition, EMWD uses
FlexNet to:
• Collect accurate data in a
timely manner
• Generate reports for cus-
tomers
• Analyze usage
• Improve operational effi-
ciency
• Conserve water
Remote Meter Reading
Leads to New Opportunities
Without FlexNet, EMWD
leaders estimate it would
take as many as eight addi-
tional staff members to
manually read the meters of
the utility’s growing popula-
tion. With it, employees can
instead focus their time on
analyzing data and using
insights gleaned to better
serve customers, assist cus-
tomers in water use efficien-
cy and conserve water.
Case in Point: The utility
was able to identify a leak
and immediately address
the issue with a grateful cus-
tomer within first two days
of deploying the technology.
A retaining wall in a sloped
area of yard concealed a bro-
ken sprinkler head in a cus-
tomer’s backyard, making it
difficult to notice. Had
EMWD not caught the leak in
time, customer’s monthly
bill could have easily dou-
bled. But the efforts don’t
stop with leak detection.
Using Data to Empower
Customers
FlexNet opened the door
to new monitoring possibili-
ties that have given rise to
innovative ways to rally cus-
tomers around water con-
servation and combatting
the drought. Continuous
usage reports identify con-
sumers with high consump-
tion levels. EMWD staff initi-
ates contact via phone call,
email or text message to
inform the customer of ele-
vated usage and encourages
them to repair the issue. To
date, 2,600 customers have
been contacted regarding
continuous usage at their
residence. 2,300 of these
customers no longer show
signs of leaks. “With FlexNet,
we are able to alert users if
they exceed their monthly
water budget," said
Gayneaux. "Doing so
ensures we are doing our
part to assist in statewide
conservation efforts in a
constantly changing regula-
tory environment."
Opportunity for the Future
As a flexible and scalable
technology, FlexNet enables
accurate and reliable meter
reads no matter how many
people and businesses come
to Riverside County.
“Accurate meter reads
and data monitoring are now
just the beginning of what
we can do with FlexNet,” said
Gayneaux. “We look forward
to expanding our use of
technology to better serve
our customers, including the
launch of a customer portal
so that users can self-moni-
tor their consumption.”
The FlexNet system not
only provides EMWD with
meaningful benefits, it also
equips them for the future
by providing support for
many years of sustainable
growth.
“
We have a
responsibility to
implement industry-
leading technologies
that create an efficient
environment and
empower the customer
to conserve water.
David Gayneaux
Manager, Meter Services,
Eastern Municipal Water
District, California, USA
EXPRESS WATER
 PROJECT TRACKER
WATER & WASTEWATER REUSE
PROJECTS IN NAMIBIA
The Ujams Wastewater Treatment and Water Reuse project also received a distinction award
for “Industrial Water Project of the Year” at Global Water Summit in Athens, Greece.
EW News Bureau
THE PRESENT TIMES are testing
times. Availability of water for the
future is one of the biggest concerns
of governments, regimes, urban
local bodies and industries around
the world. Further probing the
subject, it also comes to light that
availability just doesn’t mean
presence of any kind of water but
safe drinking water. The same is
cemented by the recent United
Nations Water Intel which states
that 783 million people are devoid of
access to ‘Clean Drinking Water’
across the globe. More than often,
the future lacks optimism. It is in
this challenging scenario that
technology companies like WABAG
provide sustainable water solutions.
Namibia is one of the most arid
countries in Southern Africa.
Windhoek, the capital of Namibia,
EXPRESS WATER
has an average annual rainfall of
around 370 mm, while the average
evaporation rate is 3400 mm. As if
this difference between water sup-
ply and demand was not problemat-
ic enough, the nearest perennial
river, the Okavango, is 700 km away
from the city. The huge distance has
made the laying of a supply pipeline
highly unfeasible. Desalination was
also explored as an alternative, but
the nearest sea shore is also 250
kms away from the capital. The town
has a total population of over
3,00,000 and catering to their water
needs for survival was really proving
to be difficult. This is when WABAG
came up with a feasible solution.
“Water is too precious to be used
just once”, and learning a lesson
from the same, a consortium of
three companies led by WABAG took
up the responsibility to ensure water
security and sustainability in
Windhoek. Building a Water
Reclamation Plant was proposed -
which could convert domestic efflu-
ent directly to potable water. The
plant was designed by WABAG to
treat 21 million liters per day and
now caters to the daily needs of
around 2,00,000 people in the area.
The intake for the plant is from two
sources - consisting of semi-purified
wastewater and water from the
Goreangab dam.
To elaborate on the process, the
wastewater is purified through a
process which ensures biological
nutrient removal and is further pol-
ished in maturation ponds before
purifying in an advanced multi-barri-
er system employing a series of
safety barriers for all harmful con-
taminants and thus guarantees out-
standing drinking water quality.
Since the start up, all relevant stan-
dards have been conformed to with-
out any difficulty.
Efficient process design and pro-
duction of high quality potable water
from this plant stands testimony to
the expertise of WABAG. On account
of its technological innovation as
well as the difference made to the
consumers’ lives, the Goreangab
WTP, Windhoek is positioned as a
role model for subsequent reuse
plants across the globe.
There is one more reuse plant in
Namibia, the Ujams Wastewater
Treatment and Water Reuse project,
which received the Distinction
Award for the “Industrial Water
Project of the Year” at the Global
Water Summit held at Athens,
Greece in 2015.
The award was given on account
of numerous unique features. First,
the project comprised the first
industrial water reclamation plant
and the first wastewater MBR plant
in Namibia. Second, the complex
range of contaminants in the feed
water - a blend of wastewater
streams from a brewery, an abattoir,
a tannery, a beverage company and
a chocolate producer - presented a
serious challenge. With a successful
7-month onsite trial, WABAG proved
the mettle of an innovative treat-
ment train using its in-house devel-
oped fine sieving pre-treatment
process - MICROPUR. Combining
this with MBR, UV disinfection,
sludge treatment and exhaust air
treatment, the joint-venture lever-
aged the best expertise the private
sector had to offer to make its part-
nership work. Third, this project will
see effluent treated to standards
suitable not only for industrial
process water and irrigation, but
also for blending in with the city’s
drinking water system.
December, 2017 69
 PROJECT TRACKER
NAMAMI GANGE
Total 34 projects worth Rs. 3581 crore were sanctioned for cleaning Ganga between 2008-
2014, while 56 projects worth Rs 9630 crore have been approved since 2014 till date.
EW News Bureau
NMCG Approves 8 Projects
Worth Over Rs. 700 Crore
National Mission for Clean
Ganga (NMCG) has approved eight
projects worth Rs. 700 crore, out of
which four pertain to sewage man-
agement in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar
and West Bengal, three are related
to treatment of drains through bio-
remediation and one of inventor-
ization and surveillance of river
Ganga. Three projects of treatment
of drains using bio-remediation
technology have also been given a
green signal at an estimated cost of
Rs. 4.29 crore. These are for
Rajapur drain and Digha drain in
Patna and Laksar drain in Haridwar.
WEST BENGAL
Rs. 200.07 Crore Project for
Pollution Abatement
For sewage management, a proj-
ect for pollution abatement in river
Ganga at Bally in West Bengal has
been approved at an estimated
cost of Rs. 200.07 crore that would
include construction of a 40 MLD
STP under Hybrid Annuity based
PPP model among other works.
UTTAR PRADESH
India’s First Sewage Treatment
Plant (STP) under Hybrid
Annuity Mode in Haridwar and
Varanasi
In the first-of-its-kind success,
creation and maintenance of
sewage treatment infrastructure
under Hybrid Annuity based PPP
model has taken off, with NMCG
awarding work to private sector for
construction and maintenance of
Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) in
two major cities in Ganga river
basin - Varanasi and Haridwar.
While the work to construct, oper-
ate and maintain a 50 MLD STP in
Varanasi has been awarded to a
consortium led by Indian infra-
structure major - Essel Infra
Projects Limited at an estimated
cost of Rs 153.16 crore, HNB
Engineers Private Ltd. has been
awarded the work to develop, oper-
70 December, 2017
ate and maintain the total sewage
treatment capacity of 82 MLD (68
MLD in Jagjeetpur & 14 MLD in
Sarai) STPs in Haridwar at an esti-
mated cost of Rs 171.53 crore.
Rs 213.62 Crore for Sewage
Treatment Related Works
Sewage treatment related works
at an estimated cost of Rs 213.62
crore have been approved that
include construction of two STPs
(28 MLD + 05 MLD) in Farrukabad
and one 2 MLD STP at Bargadiya
drain in Fatehpur. Pollution abate-
ment works for river Ganga like
interception, diversion and treat-
ment of sewage in Bithoor have
also been approved at an estimat-
ed cost of Rs 13.40 crore.
Special Focus on River
Pollution in Varanasi
Varanasi town currently gener-
ates an estimated 300 MLD of
sewage, which is expected to
Biggest Source of Pollution
for Ganga: 3000 MLD
Sewage from 97 Cities
As per the Union Minister of
Water Resources, River
Development and Ganga
Rejuvenation, Nitin Gadkari,
about 3000 MLD sewage from
97 cities on its banks are the
biggest source of pollution for
Ganga. Of this, 1750 MLD
sewage comes from just 10
cities. 34 projects worth Rs.
3581 crore had been sanc-
tioned for Ganga cleaning
between 2008-2014, while 56
projects worth Rs 9630 crore
have been approved since
2014 till date. Mentioning that
18 of these projects are ready,
Gadkari has said the other
projects will also be done by
March 2019. He has also said
that a committee headed by
MoS Dr. Satya Pal Singh will
monitor the projects on a
monthly basis.
increase to 390 MLD by 2030.
From current capacity of 3 existing
sewage treatment plants - Dinapur,
Bhagwanpur and DLW, only 102
MLD of sewage is being treated
while remaining flows directly into
river Ganga through Varuna and
Assi rivers. To bridge this gap, a 140
MLD STP at Dinapur and a 120 MLD
STP at Goitha are being construct-
ed under Japan International co-
operation Agency (JICA) assisted
project and JNNURM scheme
respectively. These projects are at
advanced stage of construction
and will be commissioned before
March 2018. Apart from this, a 50
MLD STP at Ramana has also been
awarded under Hybrid Annuity
based PPP model to exclusively
address sewage treatment require-
ments of Assi BHU area. Together,
these STPs will create sewage
treatment capacity of 412 MLD,
adequate to meet sewage treat-
ment demands of the town till
2035.
BIHAR
A total of 29 projects worth
Rs.4929.17 crore are under various
stages of implementation in Bihar
under Namami Gange Programme.
Foundation Laid for 4 New
Sewerage Projects Costing Rs.
738.04 Crore
Prime Minister Shri Narendra
Modi recently laid foundation stone
for four sewerage projects costing
Rs. 738.04 crore. These projects
include Sewage Treatment Plant at
Beur, Sewerage System with Sewer
Network at Beur, Sewage
Treatment Plant at Karmalichak
and STP and Sewer Network at
Saidpur. These projects together
will create new STP capacity of 120
MLD and upgrade the existing 20
MLD for Beur. This also includes
sewer network of 234.84 km in
Beur and Saidpur zones.
Rs 268.49 Crore Approved for
65 MLD STP in Bhagalpur
Construction of a 65 MLD STP
under Hybrid Annuity model has
been approved for Bhagalpur in
Bihar at an estimated project cost
of Rs 268.49 crore.
Patna to Become a Town
Having 100% Sewerage
Infrastructure
In Patna, 7 sewerage projects
are at various stages of implemen-
Upcoming STP Projects: UP,
Bihar and West Bengal
The upcoming sewage treat-
ment projects which have
already been sanctioned
under HAM are STPs at Naini,
Jhusi, and Phaphamau at
Allahabad (72 MLD), STPs at
Unnao, Shuklaganj, and
Bithoor along with Kanpur
(21.4 MLD), STPs at Digha and
Kankarbagh in Bihar (150),
STPs at Kolkata and Howrah
(141 MLD) STPs at Farukhabad
(30 MLD), STP at Bhagalpur
(65 MLD). Tender documents
for 10 of these projects are
being prepared. NMCG has
also appointed strategic con-
sultants for PPP design and
transaction advisory support
for integration of sewage
treatment infrastructure in
Kanpur, Allahabad, Patna and
Kolkata.
tation, out of which two - Digha and
Kankarbagh sewerage zones -
worth Rs. 1402.89 crore are sanc-
tioned under Hybrid Annuity-based
PPP mode. The existing population
in the city is 16,83,000 and the
existing sewage generated in the
city is 220 MLD and sewage load is
expected to be 320 MLD by the
year 2035. Compared to existing
sewage generation, the existing
sewage treatment capacity is only
109 MLD. A total of 11 projects
under World Bank funding are
sanctioned for six zones which will
create a total of 350 MLD of STP
capacity and will lay down 1140.26
km of sewerage network at a cost
of Rs. 3582.41crore. After comple-
tion of these 11 projects, Patna will
become a town having 100% sew-
erage infrastructure and no sewage
water will drain into River Ganga.
Rs 3.96 Crore & Rs. 24.92
Crore River Surface Cleaning
Projects in Patna
One river surface cleaning proj-
ect worth Rs. 3.96 crore and two
afforestation projects worth Rs.
24.92 crore are under implementa-
tion in Patna. Under the river sur-
face cleaning project, a trash skim-
mer has been deployed.
EXPRESS WATER
RNI NO. MAHENG-14351