Old water pipelines in Bengaluru’s core areas being replaced to cut leakage to 20%

Phase I of the project in 2018 reduced leakage from 51% to 32%. Subsequent efforts brought it down to 28% now

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has called tenders for phase II of the replacement of old pipelines in the core city areas with an aim to reduce leakage to 20%, currently pegged at 28%. It is estimated to cost ₹199 crore.

Pipelines in those regions are 40 to 60 years old and prone to leakage. BWSSB took up phase I at a cost of ₹654 crore in 2018, replacing old lines over 132 sq km. This reduced the leakage (unaccounted-for water or UfW) from 51% to 32%.

“Several other measures, including pointed interventions, have brought this down further to 28%, and the board is aiming to reduce it to single digit number,” said V. Ram Prasath Manohar, Chairman of BWSSB.

Several water conservation activists have been critical of the Board over higher UfW, even as the city draws more water from the Cauvery. Stage V was inaugurated in October this year, which will draw 775 million litres per day (MLD) in addition to 1450 MLD of water already being drawn from the river. The Board is working on preparing a detailed project report for the Cauvery VI Stage, which is expected to draw 500 MLD more.

As part of this initiative, officials had presented a plan for work worth ₹600 crore for Phase II, but only work worth ₹199 crore was recently approved by the Board, sources said. Under this programme, old pipelines in an 82 sq. km. area in Ulsoor, Domlur, and surrounding areas will be replaced. Sources said that 311 km of old pipeline has been identified to be replaced along with over 35,000 house service connections.

“Meters older than seven years will be replaced. The board will also place 56 bulk flow metres at the inlets and outlets of district metered areas (DMAs), sub-division-like grids formed by the Board. This will ensure all water supply in the area will be metered and measured,” Mr. Manohar said. He added that they will deploy robots inside the pipelines to identify the exact spot of leakage to make pointed interventions, in case the overall pipeline is in good condition.

Published - November 29, 2024 06:42 am IST