Water supply to households has reduced drastically following the cuts. Even after all this, no permanent solution to the water problem is in sight.
Mumbai is facing its worst water crisis ever. Steep cuts have been imposed on citizens until July 15 next year to ensure that the limited freshwater available in the lakes lasts till the next monsoon sets in. Water supply to households has reduced drastically following the cuts. Even after all this, no permanent solution to the water problem is in sight.
Or is it? Yes, there is a solution, says a white paper on water supply prepared by PricewaterhouseCooper, a research agency. The BMC should look to encourage water-saving measures through higher tariffs for consumption and reducing the high unaccounted supply of 20% to 40% by improving treatment plants and distribution. The measures already in place in Singapore and Jordan could help Mumbai to reduce its dependence on the rains.
If tariff blocks are established, they would lower the demand-supply gap and increase life on existing supply by reducing wastage, said experts. The report also suggested carrying out a leak detection study to assess the loss of water and mapping of the water distribution network to take up corrective action.
The BMC currently charges Rs3.50 per kilolitre of water for residential colonies and Rs2.25 per kilolitre for slums. The BMC pays Rs7.81 per kilolitre for bringing the water to the city. Civic officials are studying the possibility of introducing higher tariffs.
According to hydraulic engineer Dineshchandra Gondalia, the BMC still has to find a correlation between tariff and water consumption patterns. "The consumption has remained the same as people are willing to pay," Gondalia said. “But, yes, the demand for water supply is rising.”
In the past few years, the BMC has sanctioned various water supply projects. These include the Middle Vaitarna Project which involves construction of a 300-foot tall dam on the Vaitarna river. The shortfall by 2020 is expected to be 300 MLD while the demand is expected to exceed 5600 MLD.
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