Draftguideline Water Audit
Draftguideline Water Audit
Draftguideline Water Audit
Government of India
जल समप
ु योजन मल
ू यांकन ननदे शालय
EVALUATION OF WATER UTILISATION DIRECTORATE
1.0 INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 What is Water Audit 2
1.2 Benefits of Water Audit 3
1.3 Approach for Water Audit 3
2.0 STEPS OF WATER AUDIT 5
2.1 Water Supply and Usage Study 5
2.2 Process Study 5
2.3 System Audit 5
2.4 Discharge Analysis 5
2.5 Water Audit Report 5
3.0 IRRIGATION SECTOR 6
3.1 Water Demand in Irrigation Sector 6
3.2 Irrigation Efficiencies 7
3.2.1 Field Application Efficiency 7
3.2.2 Conveyance Efficiency 7
3.3 Water Audit in Irrigation Sector 8
3.3.1 Checking Water Account 8
3.3.2 Inspection of Irrigation Officers 9
3.3.3 Implementing Agencies 9
3.4 Performance Indicators of Water Audit 10
4.0 DOMESTIC SECTOR 11
4.1 Per Capita Water Requirement 11
4.2 Transmission losses 11
4.3 Water Audit in Domestic Sector 12
4.3.1 Water Measurement 12
4.4 Water Losses and Follow up 13
5.0 WATER AUDIT IN INDUSTRIAL SECTOR 15
5.1 Water Consumption Trend in Industries 16
5.2 Wastewater from Industrial Sources 16
5.2.1 Estimation of Wastewater Generation 17
5.2.2 Estimation of Water Pollution Load 18
5.2.3 Recycling and Reuse of Wastewater 18
5.3 Water Audit in Industries 19
5.4 Research and Development 20
6.1 WATER RATE 20
6.1 Rationalization of Water Rate 21
CHAPTER-II
WATER CONSERVATION
1.0 INTRODUCTION 22
1.1 Action Plan for Water Conservation 23
1.1.1 Conservation of Surface Water Resources 23
1.1.2 Conservation of Ground Water Resources 23
1.1.3 Rainwater Harvesting 23
1.1.4 Protection of Water Quality 24
1.1.5 Cleaning up of polluted Rivers, Lakes 24
1.1.6 Ground Water Protection 25
1.1.7 Water Conservation Practices 26
2.0 ACTION POINTS FOR WATER CONSERVATION 30
2.1 Irrigation Sector 30
2.2 Domestic & Municipal Sector 31
2.3 Industrial Sector 32
3.0 REGULATORY MECHANISM FOR WATER CONSERVATION 32
4.0 MASS AWARENESS 33
4.1 Tips for Conserving Water for Domestic and Municipal Use 34
4.2 Tips for Conserving Water for Industrial Use 35
4.3 Water Users Association (WUA) and Legal Empowerment 36
ANNEXES
WATER AUDIT
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Availability of natural resources, particularly land and water, for people of India is
inequitable at global level. Presently, with 2.4 per cent of land and 4 per cent of water
resources, India has to support 17.5 per cent of world’s population and 30 per cent of
livestock. India gets an average precipitation of 4000 billion cubic meters (BCM) per
annum whereas total available annual utilizable water resource is 1123 BCM only. Also
precipitation is highly unevenly distributed with respect to time and space, over the
country. On the other hand demand for fresh water is increasing with every passing day.
It is not only due to rapid population growth alone, but also on account of many other
factors such as rise in per capita water demand arising out of continuous upward
movement of living standards, increased reliance on irrigated agriculture, massive
urbanization and industrialization etc. and it will become scarce in the coming decades.
As per Standing Sub-Committee of MoWR and National Commission for Integrated
Water Resource Development (NCIWRD) the projected water demand for various
sectors has been summarised as below.
Projected Water Demand per annum (in BCM i.e. billion m3)
Sector Standing Sub-Committee of NCIWRD
MoWR
Year 2010 2025 2050 2010 2025 2050
Irrigation 688 910 1072 557 611 807
Drinking Water 56 73 102 43 62 111
Industry 12 23 63 37 67 81
Energy 5 15 130 19 33 70
Others 52 72 80 54 70 111
Total 813 1093 1447 710 843 1180
As shown in the table, the annual water demand is increasing year by year. In the
year 2010, annual water demand was 813 BCM and it is likely to be 1093 BCM by the
year 2025 and 1447 BCM by the year 2050. Thus available utilizable water resource of
the country is considered insufficient to meet all future needs. With a growing population
and rising needs of a fast developing nation as well as the given indications of the impact
of climate change, availability of utilizable water will be under further strain in future
with the possibility of deepening water conflicts among different user groups.
Under such a situation, in order to face the challenge of water deficit, apart from
accelerating pace of development of available utilizable water resources, all our efforts,
on the part of people from every walk of life, would need to be made to conserve every
drop of water and improve efficiency in all areas of water use.
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With a view to limited availability and increasing demand of water, standardization
and popularization of the water audit system for conservation of water in all sectors of
water use and improve the water use efficiency is must.
Keeping this in view, Central Water Commission had taken a lead role to bring out
“General Guidelines for Water Audit & Water Conservation” in 2005 with the support of
Central Ground Water Board. To consider the views and opinions of various stakeholders
across the country covering Central Government, State Governments, PSUs, NGOs etc.,
a national level workshop was organized on 30.01.2004 at New Delhi. Summary of the
recommendations of the workshop are given in Annex-A.
The “General Guidelines for Water Audit & Water Conservation” have been prepared
as conceptual guidelines to cover broadly three main sectors of water use viz. irrigation,
domestic and industrial. The aims and objectives of these guidelines are to introduce,
standardize and popularize the water audit system for conservation of water in all sectors
of water use and improve the water use efficiency.
As hydro-dynamics and hydrology are stochastic in nature depending on various
surprises, intrinsically each and every project or water management system is unique in
character. Government Departments, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), Agencies and
other such organizations of Central and State Governments, Non-Governmental
Organisations (NGOs) working for sustainable development of water resources, may
formulate comprehensive guidelines considering state-specific, region-specific and
project specific needs, based on these conceptual guidelines and keeping in view
local/regional perspectives and aspirations.
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the water loss, un-authorized connections as an advantage over the optimized use of
water resources with environmental protection.
1.2 Benefits of Water Audit
Water audit improves the knowledge and documentation of the distribution system,
problem and risk areas and a better understanding of what is happening to the water after
it leaves the source point. Leak detection programs help in minimizing leakages and
tackling small problems before they become major ones. These programs lead to-
(a) Reduced water losses,
(b) Improved financial performance,
(c) Improved reliability of supply system,
(d) Enhanced knowledge of the distribution system,
(e) Efficient use of existing supplies,
(f) Better safeguard to public health and property,
(g) Improved public relations,
(h) Reduced legal liability, and
(i) Reduced disruption, thereby improving level of service to customers
Report Leaks
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Standard terms shown in Table-1 are defined as under:
System Input Volume: The total water supplied to the water distribution system, corrected for any
error in the production meters. It includes the sum total of purchased surface or groundwater, water
obtained through the utility’s own wells, water purchased through contracted interconnections with
other water suppliers, or water obtained from other sources. This is the total of all production meter
readings for the entire audit year from all sources.
• Production Meter Accuracy—All production and bulk purchase volumes should be metered.
Meters should be well maintained and calibrated to ensure a high degree of accuracy. For any given
water utility, one or more production meters may incur a degree of inaccuracy due to wear,
malfunction, or improper installation.
• Corrected System Input Volume—The level of production meter accuracy is usually a percentage.
To calculate corrected system input volume, divide the system input volume by the percentage of
accuracy to achieve the corrected system input volume—the volume actually placed into the
distribution system. Since inaccurate meters often under register, this number will usually be larger
than the reported system input volume.
Authorized Consumption: This category consists of all water that has been authorized for use by the
utility and its customers. Authorized consumption includes, but is not limited to, water used for
residential and commercial uses, fire fighting, public fountains, golf courses, municipal landscape
watering, line flushing, city offices, water treatment facility use, dust control, and construction
practices. Authorized consumption is all the water the utility gave permission to a business, individual,
or itself to use. It may be billed or unbilled, metered or unmetered.
• Billed Metered—Water that is appropriately metered and billed.
• Billed Unmetered—Estimated water that has been sold but not metered; for example, dust control
trucks and types of businesses using authorized water drawn from fire hydrants or other unmetered
uses.
• Unbilled Metered—Water that is metered but not billed, such as city/government offices, city park
irrigation, water treatment facility use, some fire department use, and line flushing.
• Unbilled Unmetered— Estimated water that is not billed or metered, such as most line flushing.
Estimations may also be entered for this category. Installing meters on any of the sources of significant
unmetered water represents bottom-up activity to improve the accuracy of the top-down water audit
and better manage these water uses.
Water Losses: This is derived by subtracting authorized consumption from corrected system input
volume. Water losses exist in two major classifications: apparent losses and real losses. Both are
considered types of water loss. Apparent loss is valued at the customer retail rate because it had the
opportunity to be sold. Real loss, however, is calculated at the variable production cost of water.
• Apparent Losses—These are “paper” losses that occur when water reaches a customer, but the
volume is not accurately measured and/or recorded due to customer meter inaccuracy, systematic data
handling discrepancies, or unauthorized consumption. Apparent loss is water that has been consumed
but not paid for due to error in quantifying the volume of water. These losses cost water utilities
revenue and understate the collective measure of customer consumption in the water utility’s service
area. Valued at the customer retail (revenue) rate, these losses are often very cost effective to recover.
• Real Losses—These are the “physical” losses, largely leakage, from the infrastructure: mains, valves,
service lines, and tank overflows. Leakage occurrences are categorized as “reported” (visible) events
or “unreported” (nonvisible—found only by active leak detection) events. Real losses occur prior to
reaching customers and effectively force the water utility to treat and deliver more water than its
customer population actually requires. These losses are typically valued at the variable production rate
(costs for water treatment, pumping, or bulk water purchase); however, if the utility is experiencing a
water shortage, then real losses may be valued at the customer retail rate because recovered leakage
could be viewed as water that can be sold to customers.
Revenue Water: Revenue water consists of billed wholesale water exported and billed metered and
unmetered water. These are usually the primary categories through which the utility can generate
revenue.
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Non-revenue Water: This term is the sum of apparent loss, real loss, and unbilled authorized
consumption. Non-revenue water is clearly defined as all water for which no revenue is received.
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for a service and water actually utilized for that service. After assessing the loss of water
and the efficiency of the system, steps needed for utilization of recoverable water loss
may be listed. A cost-benefit study for optimum recovery of water loss may be
performed. A water audit report may, invariably, contain:
(a) Amount of water earmarked/made available to the service.
(b) Amount of water utilized both through metered and unmetered supplies.
(c) Water loss and efficiency of the system along with reasons for such losses.
(d) Suggested measures to check water loss and improve efficiency.
Irrigation is the major consumer of water, accounting for about 80 percent of the
current level of total water utilization in the country. It is estimated that with increasing
demand from other competing sectors, the availability of water for irrigation sector is
likely to reduce progressively to about 70 percent in future. Irrigated agriculture is
therefore, considered a thrust area for achieving maximum conservation in water use.
Water audit facilitates comparison between planned Irrigation System Performance
(ISP) and actual ISP (ha/ M m3) realized on the project. This will provide information
about loss of water in the system. Water audit thus helps in identifying the causes of low
ISP & excessive losses in the system. Service Provider then can initiate the action for
minimizing the losses and improving the ISP.
Water saving in irrigation sector is of paramount importance being the largest
consumer of water. Methods like aligning cropping pattern with natural resource
endowments, micro irrigation (drip, sprinkler, etc.), automated irrigation operation,
evaporation-transpiration reduction, etc., should be encouraged and incentivized.
Recycling of canal seepage water through conjunctive ground water use may also be
considered.
3.1 Water Demand in irrigation sector,
Water demand is region specific depending upon the type of soil, cropping
pattern/practices, climatic condition, etc. Irrigation water demand also depends upon the
type of infrastructure, conveyance system, water application technique etc. Among
various methods available for working out irrigation water demand, Modified Penman
Method* is considered the most suitable and is recommended for assessing crop water
demand.
_________
* “A Guide for estimating Irrigation Water Requirement” July 1984 of Water
Management Division, Ministry of Water Resources, New Delhi
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As a first step, crop evapotranspiration (Et Crop) is assessed. The crop water
requirement can then be worked out, in consideration of percolation losses and other
requirements like pre-sowing / land preparation, transplantation requirements etc., as
applicable. The quantity of water actually used by the plants for their growth is termed as
consumptive use. The Net Irrigation Requirement (NIR) is then worked out by deducting
effective rainfall from the consumptive water use. The effective rainfall may meet only
part of crop water demand. It may be insignificant in arid areas but may be a major
portion in humid areas.
The actual conveyance efficiency and actual conveyance loss can be worked out by
taking measurement of the water released at the canal head (Gross Irrigation
Requirement) and that at the field head (Field Irrigation Requirement). For more detail
Guidelines for Computing the water use efficiency of the irrigation projects may be
referred which are available on the CWC website.
3.3 Water Audit in Irrigation Sector
As one step ahead of performance evaluation studies and benchmarking of irrigation
projects, water audit is required to be made applicable to all irrigation systems. The
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measurement of water is essential for calculation of water losses during conveyance in
canal and distribution network and also during application in the field. Some of the
methods that can be used for measurement of actual quantity of water delivered are;
(a) Velocity Area Method
(b) Weir Method and
(c) Meter Flume Method.
Complete records of water withdrawn from the reservoir or the river system and of
water that flows through the various branches, distributaries and other network channels
and at outlets as well as water flowing through escapes are needed to be maintained.
Simultaneously, record of rainfall, crops sown, area irrigated and depth of water provided
are also required to be maintained. Actual conveyance and field application losses and
efficiencies of an irrigation system can be calculated from such records.
Various proformae required for water audit in irrigation sector (as are in use by Govt.
of Maharashtra) are given in Annex-B. Further details may be seen in the web site of
Govt. of Maharashtra www.maharashtra.gov.in.
Analysis of the data collected as outlined in the performae will give the actual
conveyance and field application efficiencies. These efficiencies are to be compared with
the planned / achievable efficiencies to assess the scope for improvement. The corrective
measures need to be taken accordingly.
State Government may enforce the field officers to submit the annual water accounts
of all State sector irrigation projects under a circle in prescribed proformae by 14th August
every year as being adopted by Govt. of Maharashtra. For effective implementation of the
decision based on water audit analysis and timely publication of annual water audit
report, a time-bound programme as mentioned below is framed & strictly adhered to.
On receipt of the water accounts, its scrutiny may be carried out in Water Audit Cells.
While scrutinizing the water account of a project, emphasis shall be given on following
points.
(i) Total available live storage is tallied with different water uses, evaporation
losses, leakages, replenishment received in June and unutilised water at the
end of irrigation year.
(ii) Season-wise availability and extent of water use.
(iii)Irrigation System Performance actual observed as compared to norms
fixed by Government of Maharashtra.
(iv) Actual evaporation losses as compared to designed evaporation losses.
(v) Percentage of leakages through dam and its location, efforts taken by field
staff to minimise or stop the leakages.
(vi) Actual season wise water use & area irrigated as compared to project
planning / Preliminary Irrigation Programme
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3.3.2 Inspection of Irrigation offices
To have a cross check over the data submitted in water account & to verify whether
record about water storages, water use, different losses along with crop wise area
measurements, revenue assessment/ revenue recovery are maintained up-to-date & in
prescribed form, annual inspections of Irrigation offices is carried out each year. An
annual inspection programme, for inspection of irrigation management divisions, shall be
prepared and communicated to the field officers. According to this programme,
inspections may be conducted. During such office inspections, to ascertain the validity of
water account data submitted to Water Audit Cells the following records are to be
checked.
(i) Daily lake level & water storage register.
(ii) Daily evaporation record register (Major & Medium projects)
(iii)Main Canal gauge register to evaluate water let out in canal for irrigation
(daily, rotation-wise, season-wise)
(iv) Agency - wise non irrigation water use register.
(v) Register for leakages through dam.
(vi) Record of measurement of irrigated area
(vii) Crop-wise area assessed.
(viii)Revenue recovered
All State Governments should form Water Audit Cells under Monitoring Units in
their Water Resources Departments. The Project Authorities will maintain the water
account and Monitoring Unit of Irrigation/Water Resources Departments can be given the
responsibility of carrying out the water audit. The number of projects to be audited by a
Water Audit Cell may depend upon the size of the irrigation projects.
Government of Maharashtra has formed a ‘Water Audit cell’ to carry out water audit
of more than 2000 projects and issued first report in this regard in March 2005. The
reports published by Government of Maharashtra can be seen in the aforesaid web site
www.maharashtra.gov.in.
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It is advised that Water Audit exercise may be conducted annually by each State
Government and the report may be placed before the standing committee for the Water
Resources of the concerned state assembly.
Looking at the number and availability of data, the analysis for Minor Irrigation Projects
the following four indicators were used.
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4.0 DOMESTIC SECTOR
Domestic water is a basic need for human as well as livestock. The main objective of
domestic water supply system is to provide safe and clean water in adequate quantity at
reasonable cost to every household. For sustainability, the planning may be required at
national level as a whole for policies and subsequently at state or region or at community
levels. Lot of waste water is generated specially in urban areas. It is estimated that return
flow from urban and rural uses is about 50% of supplies and pollute the very fresh water
resources. It is expected that 85 percent of the return flow would go the surface water
source and balance 15 percent to ground water source. There are considerable losses in
the distribution system on account of leakages due to networks being old and poor
maintenance in addition to lack of efforts towards conservation.
Urban water supply and sewage treatment schemes should be integrated and executed
simultaneously. Water supply bills should include sewerage charges also.
The quantity of water required for domestic purposes depends mainly on habits, social
status, climatic conditions and customs of the people. The per capita water requirement in
urban areas is more than that in the rural areas. As per yardstick of the Union Ministry of
Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation, water requirement for domestic purposes in
urban areas is 40 litres per capita per day (lpcd) in case of supply through public stand
posts and 70 lpcd in the case of supply through house service connections, where no
sewerage system is existing or contemplated. Where sewerage system exists or
contemplated, water supply would be 135 lpcd in the urban areas. In the case of
metropolitan cities having population of more than 1 million, the domestic water supply
would be 150 lpcd. Over and above the aforesaid demand, 15% losses may be allowed for
determining the quantity of raw water required.
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4.3 Water Audit in Domestic Sector
In domestic water supply, water audit is considered very important, since treatment of
water to bring it to drinking water standard costs a lot of money to the supplier. Water
audit helps in determining the amount of water lost from a distribution system due to
leakages etc. Water audit compares the amount of water supplied with the amount billed
and accounts for the water loss.
4.3.1 Water Measurement
For the purpose of water audit, bulk metering system should be devised zone-wise,
including group-consumer-wise in a system or a subsystem. This will facilitate
identification of the reaches where actually the wastage of water is taking place. One can
determine average daily water use by using one of the following two methods.
(a) Metered Water: In the case of metered water use, per capita per day consumption is
to be obtained by dividing water usage by the number of days in the billing period and
also by the number of residents of household.
(b) Unmetered Water: If water use is not metered, one must determine water use for
each fixture. Flow rates for showers and faucets can be determined by using a container
and stop watch to measure the amount of water discharged through the fittings in a
minute. Toilet use per flush can be approximated by the capacity of the flushing tank.
After determining the water use of each fixture, one will need to record the number of
uses/ the length of time each fixture is used to determine average daily water use.
Alternately, legitimate unmetered consumption can be worked out based on average
domestic (metered) consumption per capita per day for consumers having similar water
use habits plus an allowance for unmetered commercial consumption. A sample proforma
for assessing water requirement for residential units is at Annex-C.
Distribution system characteristics vary and hence, each utility will have different
challenges in performing the water audit. Each utility will need to decide how it can
perform the audit accurately with the least cost. A worksheet should be developed, with a
set study period. A study period should be set considering evaluation of the complete
water system. Shorter periods might not give a complete picture of the water system, and
longer periods can be difficult to manage. One year is recommended because it includes
all seasons and gives enough time to eliminate the effect of meter reading lag.
Once the study period has been set and a worksheet has been developed, the audit can
be conducted. A set of model forms and instructions may be included that can be used if
the utility does not choose to develop one. Records should be compiled and meters should
be checked so that usages are recorded accurately. Once usages are computed, the
worksheet should then be filled in, and water delivered should be balanced with water
used. Unmetered uses should be documented along with the methods to quantify them.
An attempt to account for water loss should be made. Based on the findings of the audit,
options should be developed to reduce water losses.
While making adjustments to metered amounts, all adjustments and how they were
calculated should be properly documented. All records should reflect adjustments and
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such adjustments should be verifiable. If adjustments are for significant amounts of water
then necessary changes in the system should be made to eliminate need for such
adjustments in the future. Adjustments could be known from the difference between
storage in system at the beginning and that at the end of the study period. Some difficulty
might be there in adjusting existing records to fit the study period. When meter-reading
periods overlap, some adjustments will be necessary to represent the study period. Some
flow records might have to be pro-rated so that all flow measurements reflect the same
period. This should be done carefully to ensure the accuracy of the audit.
A preliminary audit should be undertaken to determine the amount of water loss.
If water loss is significant, a more detailed study should be undertaken and accordingly
measures should be taken to reduce the loss. A sample proforma for assessing water
losses in domestic/industrial units is given as Annex-D.
In addition to the above, a more thorough or comprehensive audit would include the
following:
(a) An inventory of meters.
(b) Analysis of water loss and methods to reduce the loss.
(c) Periodic checking for accuracy of meters.
Inventory of meters may contain details such as types, sizes, and age of meters in the
distribution system. This will help in estimating the accuracy of the meters in a system on
wide scale. This can supplement the water usage information and show usage patterns in
the distribution system. It will also help any meter replacement program and cross-
connection control program. Possible corrective measures include leak detection
programs, meter replacement or installation programs, and conservation programs.
Factors to be considered for corrective measures may include:
(a) Where the losses occur
(b) How much loss is in each problem area
(c) What possible solutions exist
(d) Cost of the solutions, and
(e) Time to implement the solutions
It will be important to verify records and check meter accuracy, as these will affect
the accuracy of the audit. Records should be checked carefully to make sure that units are
correct, all measurements are included, measurements represent the same time period, and
that calculations are correct.
4.4 Water Losses and Follow up
Water losses are losses in the distribution systems that are not due to authorized
consumption. Water losses can be categorized as either apparent losses or real losses.
(a) Apparent Losses
Apparent losses are also referred to as commercial losses. This is because water that
is lost in this way is water that could have been sold. Because of this, when doing
financial calculations, this water should be priced at the retail rate. Examples of
apparent losses include water theft, slow meters and billing issues. Specifically,
apparent losses are comprised of:
1. Unauthorized Consumption – Typically, unauthorized consumption is considered
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to be water theft. Examples include taking water illegally from fire hydrants, customer
meter tampering, meter bypasses and illegal line taps. This value is low for most water
systems. Unless the user has well validated data on unauthorized consumption, a value
of 0.25% of the water produced from the users own sources can be used as a starting
point for the audit.
2. Customer Meter Inaccuracies– Customer meters are quite accurate when they are
new but as they age and they start to wear they begin to under-register. Meter
inaccuracy can be further increased by water that is chemically aggressive. Customer
meter inaccuracies are the apparent loss due to the collective under-registration of
customer meters. Data should be entered as the percentage under-registration of
billed& unbilled metered consumption. This percentage is often estimated. A value of
2.0% under-registration of billed metered consumption can be used as a starting point
for the audit.
3. Systematic Data Handling Errors– These are errors that occur between when a
meter is read and when a bill for that reading is sent to the customer. They are due to
data handling and billing errors.
Unauthorized Consumption
+ Customer Meter Inaccuracies
+ Systematic Data handling Errors
= Apparent Losses
(b) Real Losses
Real losses are the water that is actually lost due to leaks. This leakage can occur as
distribution and transmission leaks, storage leaks including overflow at water storage
tanks and service connection piping leaks. All water systems have loss due to leakage.
Preventing or repairing these leaks typically requires a water system to invest in a
utility loss control program for the water system infrastructure.
Water Losses
– Apparent Losses
= Real Losses
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Among the benefits of NRW control initiatives are:
1. Reducing operating losses and improving revenue collection
2. Minimising unscheduled water supply disruption through water pressure control
measures and close supervision of quality of work and materials
3. Increasing the efficiency of water supply distribution system management
4. Improving asset management and water supply network systems and their
components through the use of latest hardware and software technology
5. Performing water audit as a tool for checking the overall performance of water supply
activities
6. Determining capital expenditures.
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to 3.5 times more water per unit of production compared to similar plants operating in
other countries.
5.1 Water Consumption Trend in Industries
Indian industry is currently excessively dependent on fresh water and tends to dump
its untreated waste into the rivers and groundwater. Overall, the water footprint of Indian
industry is too high, which is bringing industry into conflict with other parts of the
economy and society. There is huge scope for reducing the industrial water footprint and
this can be done through technologies and investments, which have a very short payback
period. Coal-based thermal power plants need massive amounts of water, both for cooling
and ash disposal. In case of coastal power plants, the water requirement is normally met
from the sea, but for inland TPPs, water is a far more critical issue.
The first step in this direction will be to make comprehensive water audits a recurring
feature of industrial activity so that we know what is being used by the industrial sector at
present and so that changes can be monitored and the most cost-effective basket of water
efficiency technologies and processes designed and implemented to reduce water demand
and increase industrial value added per unit of water consumed. We must make it
mandatory for companies to include every year in their annual report, details of their
water footprint for the year. Simultaneously, we must develop benchmarks for specific
water use in different industries and would ensure their application in the grant of
clearances for industrial projects.
5.2 Wastewater from Industrial Sources
In pace with the rise in industrial water requirement, wastewater from industries is
also going up continuously. Discharge of effluents from the industries to water bodies
pollutes enormously larger quantity of fresh water. Thus apart from taking measures for
saving of water in industrial sector, apparently, there is a need for serious efforts to treat
industrial effluents before their discharge to water bodies.
Out of the 192,804 MW with environmental clearance, about 138,000 MW or 72%
are inland. TERI has estimated that in 1999–2001 out of a total of about 83,000 million
litres per day (MLD) of water discharged by all the industries in India, about 66,700
MLD (~80 per cent) is cooling water discharge from thermal power plants. CSE puts the
figure closer to 90%. During the same period, it was estimated that for every MW of
power produced, Indian thermal power plants consumed about 8 times more water than
those in developed nations. This is mainly attributed to the once-through cooling system
(open loop system). Cooling towers and ash handling are the major water consuming
areas and account for about 70 per cent of the water use within the plant. Comprehensive
water audits conducted by TERI at some of India’s largest thermal power plants revealed
immense scope of water savings in the cooling towers, and ash handling systems. Once-
through systems are becoming uncommon in the world. However, in India, many plants
still operate the once-through cooling system. A rough estimate suggests that by
converting all the thermal power plants in India to closed-cycle cooling systems, about
65,000 MLD of fresh water can be saved. The payback period for the proposed
wastewater treatment and recycling system is less than 3 years. From a national
perspective, where a large number of power plants other than NTPC still function on the
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once-through cooling system, there is considerable scope to improve water-use efficiency
and conserve water resources.
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The emphasis on curtailing wastage in handling and improvement in operation
processes through better management can lead to minimization of wastes. Since all these
factors vary from industry to industry and unit to unit, it is very difficult to precisely
estimate the exact volume of wastewater. However, based on experience an average
volume per unit product for a particular product can always be assessed.
5.2.2 Estimation of Water Pollution Load
The liquid waste generated by industrial sector can be classified into four categories
as presented in the following table.
Classification of Industrial Discharge according to Nature of Pollutants
Nature of pollutants Type of industries
Organic pollution Distillery, Sugar, Tannery, Pulp and Paper Dairy, Coke-
oven, Refinery and Food industry
Dissolved solids Chemical industry, Fertilizer, Pharmaceutical, Pesticides
Toxic chemicals Electroplating, Coke-oven, Tannery, Chemical industry,
Pesticides, Pharmaceuticals, H-acid, G-acid plants, Dye and
Dye intermediates
Cooling water Thermal Power Plants, Cable, Rolling Mills, PVC and plastic
mounting
18
excise exemption, etc. can also be provided for industries and commercial establishments
to encourage recycling and reuse by the State Governments / concerned local authorities.
Also, the cost of industrial water recycling varies from site to site and depends on
comparison of cost of waste treatment prior to disposal with that of treatment of waste
water for reuse within the Plants. But the recycling cost may work out less-in future as
cost of water supply may go up.
19
Determine whether flow rates in floor gutters are adequate to prevent solids
accumulation.
(b) Evaluate Survey Results
Identify the major water-using operations.
Review the water reuse practices currently employed.
Evaluate the feasibility of installing cooling towers (as applicable).
Study the potential for screening and disinfecting reclaimed water to increase the
number of times it can be re-used.
20
advocated in the National Water Policy. Water rate for domestic water use may be
minimum, followed by water rates for irrigation, power and industrial sectors in
ascending order. Even in one sector of water use, various slabs of water rate may be
decided to effort economy in water use. For instance in the case of domestic water use, a
standard rate may be fixed for domestic water consumption as per prescribed norms. In
the event of consumption per capita per month being less than the prescribed norms, a
concession may be offered as an incentive to the consumers. Similarly, for higher levels
of monthly water consumption different enhanced rate slabs may be thought of as is being
practiced in energy sector to discourage misuse of water and effect water saving.
Introduction of such a slab system of water rate in irrigation sector, apart from effecting
water saving, may be considered as a deterrent for over-watering in head and middle
reaches and thus may be helpful in equitable distribution of water between head, middle
and tail reaches of an irrigation command. Such an idea may be extended to power and
industrial sectors of water use as well. With such an approach of water rate, apart from
saving in water use, discharge rate of industrial effluents is also expected to fall. Detailing
of slab rate system for water use may be finalized at State level.
The following important aspects related to water pricing as per National Water Policy
2012 shall be used as guiding principle.
Pricing of water should ensure its efficient use and reward conservation. Equitable
access to water for all and its fair pricing, for drinking and other uses such as
sanitation, agricultural and industrial, should be arrived at through independent
statutory Water Regulatory Authority (WRA), set up by each State, after wide
ranging consultation with all stakeholders.
In order to meet equity, efficiency and economic principles, the water charges
should preferably / as a rule be determined on volumetric basis. Such charges
should be reviewed periodically.
Recycle and reuse of water, after treatment to specified standards, should also be
incentivized through a properly planned tariff system.
The principle of differential pricing may be retained for the pre-emptive uses of
water for drinking and sanitation; and high priority allocation for ensuring food
security and supporting livelihood for the poor. Available water, after meeting the
above needs, should increasingly be subjected to allocation and pricing on
economic principles so that water is not wasted in unnecessary uses and could be
utilized more gainfully.
Water Users Associations (WUAs) should be given statutory powers to collect
and retain a portion of water charges, manage the volumetric quantum of water
allotted to them and maintain the distribution system in their jurisdiction. WUAs
should be given the freedom to fix rates subject to floor rates determined by
WRAs.
The over-drawal of groundwater should be minimized by regulating the use of
electricity for its extraction. Separate electric feeders for pumping ground water
for agricultural use should be considered.
21
CHAPTER –II
WATER CONSERVATION
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Rapid industrialisation and urbanization coupled with continuous decline in per
capita water availability is putting a lot of pressure on the available water resources in
the country. As per report of standing sub-Committee for assessment of availability and
requirements of water for diverse uses in the country (August, 2000) the future water
requirements for meeting the demands of various sections in the country for the year
2025 and 2050 have been estimated to be 1093 BCM and 1447 BCM respectively. The
increasing gap between water availability and demand highlights the need for
conservation of water. The National Water Policy 2012 also lays stress on conservation
of water. It has been stipulated that efficiency of utilization in all the diverse uses of
water should be optimised and an awareness of water as a scarce resources should be
fostered.
There is a need for water conservation, not only to restore the fast deteriorating eco-
system of the country but also to meet the inevitable emergency of shortage even for
drinking and domestic water in near future. The following points are to be pondered
upon to plan strategies to meet the crisis:-
1. Water is a finite resource and cannot be replaced/ duplicated.
2. Water resources are theoretically "renewable" through hydrological cycle.
However, what is renewable is only the quantity, but pollution, contamination,
climate change, temporal and seasonal variations have affected the water
quality and reduced the amount of "usable water".
3. Only 2.7% of the water on earth is fresh.
4. As per Ministry of Rural Development, 182 districts (972 blocks) comprising
an area of 7,45,914 sq.km have been covered under ‘Drought Prone Areas
Programme’.
5. About 310 blocks in the country are over-exploited where ground water is
withdrawn more than its replenishment from rainfall.
6. The ground water levels have declined by more than 4 meters in 40 districts of
16 states in the country during last decade.
7. Rainfall is highly unevenly distributed over time and space in various parts of
the country.
8. About 87.2 Billion Cubic Metre (BCM) of surplus monsoon runoff is available
in 20 river basins of the country, out of which 21.4 BCM can be recharged to
ground water reservoirs.
9. Increased demand in coastal areas is threatening the fresh water aquifers with
seawater intrusion.
10. In inland saline areas, the fresh water is becoming saline due to excessive
withdrawal of ground water.
11. Water conservation practices in urban areas can reduce the demand as much as
by one third, in addition to minimizing pollution of surface and ground water
resources.
22
12. Watershed programmes tended to concentrate on harvesting rainwater through
surface structures. There is a need to look at surface and ground water
holistically and prepare a conjunctive use plan.
The Scheme for Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies
during the XII Plan has been approved by Government of India and the new
Guidelines were circulated to all the State Governments. Under the scheme, about
10,000 water bodies having a Culturable Command Area (CCA) of 6.235 lakh hectare
at a cost of Rs. 10,000 crore would be covered. Out of 10,000 water bodies, 9,000
water bodies will be in rural areas and balance 1,000 water bodies will be in urban
areas.
23
resources. A twin strategy of adopting simple artificial recharge techniques in rural areas
like Percolation Tanks, Check dams, Recharge Shafts, Dugwell Recharge and Sub-
surface dykes and adopting Roof top rainwater harvesting in urban areas, can go a long
way in redeeming the worsening situation of shortage of groundwater. About 2.25 lakhs
artificial recharge structures in rural areas and about 37 lakhs Rooftop rainwater
harvesting structures in the cities are feasible. The design and viability of various low
cost structures have been demonstrated by CGWB by undertaking 174 schemes
throughout the country under the Central Sector Scheme "Study of Ground water
Recharge”. Rainwater harvesting has to be taken up in a big way to solve the crisis of
water scarcity.
Uncovered areas, particularly in urban and semi-urban localities, are continuously
diminishing due to phenomenal pace of industrialization and urbanization and massive
use of concrete all around in the country. This phenomenon is constantly causing reduced
scope for percolation of rain waters to the ground during monsoon and thus perpetual
reduction in ground water recharge year after year. With a view to offset this loss in
recharge of groundwater there is apparent need for making roof rainwater harvesting
mandatory, either through legislation or by promulgating ordinance, for every public as
well as private new and existing buildings in urban and semi-urban areas within specified
time frame. Apart from this, harvesting of surface runoff in open areas, both public and
private, may also need to be encouraged. Some of the benefits of rainwater harvesting are
as follows:
The rapid increase in the density of human population in certain pockets of the
country as a result of urbanisation and industrialization is making adverse impact on the
quality of both surface and ground water. Demand for water is increasing on one hand
and on the other hand the quantity of "utilizable water resources" is decreasing due to
human intervention in the form of pollution of fresh water. Thus the protection of
existing water resources from pollution is a very vital aspect of water conservation.
24
cleaning up of these water bodies is of utmost importance to provide water supply to the
population on the one hand and on the other hand to maintain the environment to the
desired level. The action points in this regard are as follows:-
1. To control and check the flow of pollution to the rivers, lakes and ponds through
appropriate measures/action.
2. Treatment of effluent up to the appropriate standard before discharging into the
rivers.
3. Proper maintenance and uninterrupted operation of the sewage treatment plant
4. System of incentive and dis-incentive for discharging pollutants / untreated waste
into the rivers.
5. Adopting remedial measures in the particular river stretch where the problem is
acute;
6. Adopting appropriate technology for removal of pollution from lakes and
reservoirs
7. Declaring particular site/location as water heritage site and adoption by different
organizations / departments for maintaining the same to the desired standard.
On account of continuous discharge of industrial effluents in water bodies like
rivers, canals, lakes, ponds etc and contamination of ground water aquifers with
pullulated waters, these water bodies at places have become polluted to an enormous
extent and apparently huge financial resources are needed for decontaminating them.
This suggests for taking stringent measures like imposition of huge penalty for abusing
such water bodies, cancellation of license or permission for operation of water polluting
industrial units. Pollution Control Boards at Central and State levels may be provided
legal powers through legislation to deal with such delinquent agencies and industrial
units. Sensitizing general public and involvement of non-governmental organizations
with requisite experience and interest in implementation of legislation for control of
pollution of water bodies may also prove useful and effective. Media has also a very vital
role to enact by way of highlighting lapses on the part of individuals and industrial units.
Traditionally, in India, rivers are revered as Goddess. With time, such a feeling has
started diluting. People, particularly young generation, may be inculcated to bestow
respect to rivers and other water bodies to strengthen this traditional belief of sacred
status of rivers and streams and maintain their aesthetic values through mass awareness.
1.1.6 Ground Water Protection
Ground water resources are getting polluted at an alarming pace due to lack of
proper wastewater and sewerage disposal system in urban areas. The application of
excessive fertilizers in agriculture sector and disposal of hazardous effluents from the
industries are putting great strain on availability of fresh water. The action points to
safeguard the water bodies may be as follows:-
1. Use of organic fertilizers should be encouraged to protect ground water from
pollution due to excessive use of chemical fertilizers. Ground water vulnerable zones
may be identified by preparing vulnerability maps for physical, chemical and biological
contaminants for the whole country.
2. Notification on banning industries, landfills and disposal sites of industrial
effluents and sewerage, which are hazardous to ground water aquifer systems.
25
3. Devising ground water solute transport model for contaminants plume
migration studies.
4. Research and Development studies for corrective action techniques on polluted
aquifers.
i) Small Reservoirs
Construction of small reservoirs in the watersheds of Relmajra (Punjab), Sukhomajri
(Haryana), Wagarwadi of Maharashtra, Kothakota and Veeravanka in Andhra Pradesh,
Ramnagar of Udhampur (Jammu and Kashmir) to store excess runoff in the beds of the
torrents to control flash floods, recharge ground water, save the land downstream from
erosion have been a great success. At some watersheds, the water could be stored in rainy
season and utilized in the drought year thus providing irrigation to wheat. One of the
serious problems being faced by Punjab and Haryana is the receding water table in shallow
tube wells, recharge of ground water is extremely essential in this situation. For these
purpose small reservoirs in the hilly areas even if they had not stored water for irrigation
will be of immense help to the population.
ii) Percolation Embankment
For water development and reducing the runoff, many percolation embankments are
constructed to harvest water from their catchments. These embankments provided very
effective for controlling flash floods and probably recharging ground water and saving
large areas of cultivated land from flooding and gully formation.
iii) Diversion Drain
Diversion drain to divert water from hilly areas is an important component of
watershed management. Though at many places, the terrain was such that diversion drains
would have proved useful but these were constructed at a few places. In all these places
watershed diversion drains provide useful in controlling runoff of water from hilly areas
and avoiding flooding of the cultivated area.
26
iv) Gully Plug
It is observed that gully plugs have been taken up at a number of places viz,
Badhkhera in Rajasthan, Salaiyar in Tamil Nadu, Aganpur- Bhagwasi in Punjab, Umsiang
and Middle Rongre in Meghalaya, Upper Swarna Rekha in Jharkahnd with the objective of
stabilizing the gullies and increasing the recharge of ground water. These were effective
only when well designed and a series of these were constructed at appropriate intervals.
v) Submergence Bunds
This is a unique practice particularly in Bundelkhand zone of MP and UP. In this
case, water from large area is retained by constructing big dikes or dams at lower elevation
to submerge large areas upstream. The main objective of this bund is to recharge profile in
relatively high water holding capacity soils so that the success of rabi crops is assured.
vi) Check Dams
Check Dams across the gullies of nala bundies have been constructed at many
watersheds to harvest and store excess runoff of water and reused the same for raising the
crops either in rainy season itself or in the post rainy season. Spillways are generally
provided. These structures proved useful in providing direct irrigation or in recharging the
ground water and other soil conservation measures resulted in increasing number of tube
wells and dug wells.
vii) Percolation Tanks
Harvest and storage of excess runoff of water in the low rainfall areas helps in
recharging of the ground water and as such the tanks are termed as percolation tanks.
viii) Farm Ponds
These were constructed in few places, mainly in the very dry areas. These proved to
be useful for providing drinking water and water for live stock in the watersheds like
Badhkhera in Rajasthan, Bajni in Madhya Pradesh. At some watershed farm ponds has
been used to raise the vegetable crops using the stored water.
ix) Nala Bundies
Nala bundies is a variation of small reservoirs but help in recharging the ground
water.This has been successfully adopted in Wagarwadi watershed of Maharashtra. This
programme will be particularly useful in areas of relatively high rainfall where crop suffers
from excess water and other moisture stress. These natural nalas can serve both as
drainage and irrigation channel.
x) Submergence Tank
In submergence tanks, the rain water is stored from every field by constructing big
dykes across the drain lines.
xi) Dug out ponds/Tanks
The dugout ponds/ tanks have been used for recharge of ground water and for direct
irrigation. This programme helps mainly farmers who own relatively small holdings.
27
important role in water conservation in a particular area. Some of the practices adopted for
water conservation are discussed here below:
i) Application of water by Sprinkler and Drip Irrigation Methods
In order to conserve water, sprinkler irrigation is the best method to use on soils that
have steep slopes, undulating or irregular topography and on soils that are too shallow to
level. It is difficult, however, to sprinkle irrigate if water intake rate of soils is less than
4mm/hr. Drip irrigation method is a more recent type of pressurized irrigation method
which is widely practiced in the developed countries and is being introduced in arid and
semi-arid zones where water scarcity is major problem, compared to the sprinkler
irrigation method, the drip methods operate on much lower line pressure, thus providing or
saving in energy requirement. A recent approach is mixing of fertiliser with the irrigation
water which is then delivered to the crops/plants through drip irrigation and has been
termed as fertigation. This is an efficient method of delivering fertiliser and water to the
plant with minimum wastage. A detailed note on drip and sprinkler system is given at
Annexure-I
ii) Miscellaneous in-situ moisture conservation Practices
Present research has shown that the best possibility of moisture conservation lies in
controlling the portion of the precipitation that normally runs off from land. Effecting the
prolonged detention of surface water on the land, increases the amount of water entering
the soil. The effective methods in dry farming areas are:-
a) Contour cultivation
b) Formation of basins, furrows, random tie ridges, broad based ridges and furrows.
c) Crop ploughing in both red and black soils when the rainfall is less than 750mm.
d) Formation of drainage channel in black soil areas
iii) Intelligent Irrigation Scheduling:
Performance of an irrigation system is judged by the level of water control it offers and
the rehabilitation/modernisation apart, efficient management operation and management of
the system is the key. Irrigating crops in the command, strictly conforming to the required
frequency and duration has potential of enhancing water use efficiency in irrigation sector.
iv) Optimal utilisation of ground water- conjunctive use
In conjunctive situations, gravity canals when integrated with micro-irrigation,
recharge aquifer, uniform water spread in much larger area the command and avoids
ground water pumping involving heavier cost and thereby improve overall on-farm energy
balance as also raises the water-table.
v) Minimisation of losses due to evaporation
For crop irrigation, optimum water efficiency means minimising losses due to
evaporation, runoff while maximising production. Evaporation losses can be minimised by
making the reservoir deep or by using chemicals which reduce the rate of evaporation.
C) Catchment Area Treatment
The Centrally Sponsored Programme of Soil Conservation in the Catchments of River
Valley Project &Flood Prone River (RVP&FPR) is being implemented through Micro
Management of Agriculture (MMA) since November 2000. The main objectives of the
programme are:-
I. Prevention of land degradation by adoption of a multi-disciplinary integrated
approach of soil conservation &watershed management in catchment areas.
28
II. Improvement of land capability and moisture regime in the watersheds.
III. Promotion of land use to match land capability.
IV. Prevention of soil loss from the catchments to reduce siltation of multipurpose
reservoirs.
V. Afforestation.
Presently this programme is being implemented in 60 catchments all over the country.
In this programmes all type of lands viz, agriculture, waste and forest are treated in an
integrated manner with suitable packages of treatment viz Construction of Contour
Vegetative Hedge, Contour Graded Bunding, Horticulture Plantation, Staggered
Trenching, Sowing and planting of plant, Pasture Development and Drainage Line
Treatment. The Evaluation studies revealed that watershed inventions have been found
very effective in prevention of land degradation and water conservation. The main findings
were:-
i) Increase in agricultural yield
ii) Increase in cropping intensity
iii) Reduction in sediment production rate
iv) Reduction in peak rate of runoff
v) Increase in groundwater recharge
Important action points towards water conservation in the irrigation sector are as
follows:
29
10. Preparation of a realistic and scientific system operation plan keeping in view the
availability of water and crop water requirements;
11. Execution of operation plan with reliable and adequate water measuring structures.
12. Revision of cropping pattern in the event of change in water availability;
13. Utilisation of return flow of irrigation water through appropriate planning;
14. Imparting trainings to farmers about consequences of using excess water for
irrigation;
15. Rationalization of water rate to make the system self-sustainable;
16. Formation of Water Users Associations and transfer of management to them;
17. Promoting multiple use of water;
18. Introducing night irrigation practice to minimize evaporation loss;
19. In arid regions crops having longer root such as linseed, berseem, lucerne guar, gini
grass, etc may be grown as they can sustain in dry hot weather;
20. Assuring timely and optimum irrigation for minimizing water loss and water-logging;
21. Introducing rotational cropping pattern for balancing fertility of soil and natural
control of pests;
22. Modern effective and reliable communication systems may be installed at all
strategic locations in the irrigation command and mobile communication systems
may also be provided to personnel involved with running and maintenance of
systems. Such an arrangement will help in quick transmission of messages and this
in turn will help in great deal in effecting saving of water by way of taking timely
action in plugging canal breaches, undertaking repair of systems and also in canal
operation particularly when water supply is needed to be stopped due to sudden
adequate rainfall in the particular areas of the command.
23. With a view to control over irrigation to the fields on account of un-gated water
delivery systems, all important outlets should be equipped with flow control
mechanism to optimize irrigation water supply.
24. As far as possible with a view to make best use of soil nutrients and water holding
capacity of soils, mixed cropping such as cotton with groundnut, sugarcane with
black gram or green gram or soyabean may be practised.
25. It has been experienced that with scientific use of mulching in irrigated agriculture,
moisture retention capacity of soil can be increased to the extent of 50 per cent and
this in turn may increase yield up to 75 per cent.
2.2 Domestic & Municipal Sector
Important action points for water conservation in domestic and municipal
sector are as under:-
1. Action towards reduction of losses in conveyance;
2. Management of supply through proper meter as per rational demand;
3. Intermittent domestic water supply may be adopted to check its wasteful use.
4. Realization of appropriate water charges so that the system can be sustainable and
wastage is reduced;
5. Creation of awareness to make attitudinal changes;
6. Evolving norms for water use for various activities and designing of optimum water
supply system accordingly;
30
7. (a) Modification in design of accessories such as flushing system, tap etc. to reduce
water requirement to optimal level;
(b) Wherever necessary, BIS code may be revised;
8. (a) Possibility for recycling and reuse of water for purposes like gardening, flushing to
toilets, etc. may be explored;
(b) Wastewater of certain categories can be reused for other activities as per
feasibility;
9. Optimum quantity of water required for waste disposal to be worked out;
10. In public buildings the taps etc. can be fitted with sensors to reduce water losses;
Important action points for water conservation in industrial sector are given below:-
1. Rationalizing pricing policy of water in urban and rural areas. Industries should be
discouraged to exploit ground water with high price slabs.
31
2. Restriction on new construction of ground water structures in all the over exploited
and dark blocks of the country;
3. Metering of all ground water abstraction structures;
4. Controlled supply of electricity and downsizing of pump capacity in rural areas;
5. Regulating the water trading or selling;
6. Providing incentives for adoption of rainwater harvesting;
7. Modification in building bye-laws in urban areas to make it mandatory to adopt
rainwater harvesting. Action has been initiated by Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat,
Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh in
this respect. Other States are required to take initiatives in this regard.
Saving of Water
32
Electronic and print media, posters, stickers, handbills, etc may be used liberally to
inculcate sense of responsibility and belongingness for precious natural resource water
among various sections of society. Small documentary films, in regional languages, on
importance of water and techniques to be adopted for water saving and water
conservation may be telecast periodically from regional television channels to create
awareness among countrymen particularly people living in rural areas.
4.1 Tips for Conserving Water for Domestic and Municipal Use
33
• Installation of float-controlled valve on the make-up line, closing filling line during
operation, provision of surge tanks for each system to avoid overflow;
• Adjusting flow in sprays and other lines to meet minimum requirements;
• Washing vehicles less often, or using commercial car wash that recycles water;
In case of big establishments like hotels, large offices and industrial complexes,
community centres, etc. dual piped water supply may be insisted upon. Under such an
arrangement one supply may carry fresh water for drinking, bathing and other human
consumptions whereas recycled supply from second line may be utilized for flushing out
human solid wastes. This may be made mandatory. Similarly, water harvesting through
storming of water runoff including rainwater harvesting in all new building on plots of
100 sq. m and above may be made mandatory.
4.2 Tips for Conserving Water for Industrial Use
• Using fogging nozzles to cool product;
• Installing in-line strainers on all spray headers; regular inspection of nozzles for
clogging;
• Adjusting pump cooling and water flushing to the minimum required level;
• Determining whether discharge from any one operation can be substituted for fresh
water supply to another operation;
• Choosing conveying systems that use water efficiently;
• Handling waste materials in a dry mode wherever possible;
• Replacing high-volume hoses with high-pressure, low-volume cleaning systems;
• Replacing worn-out equipments with water-saving models;
• Equipping all hoses with spring loaded shutoff nozzles – it should be ensured that
these nozzles are not removed;
34
water resources projects and providing services to the users, may need to be involved for
making integrated and continuous efforts for creating mass awareness towards
importance of saving and conservation of water, and duties and responsibilities of
individuals as well as of organizations and institutions towards judicious and optimal use
of water.
Water Users’ Association, though relatively a new concept in the country but is
prevalent in some states in irrigation sector. It is considered that involvement of farmers
in water management will facilitate equitable and judicious allocation of irrigation waters
among farmers of head, middle and tail reaches and improves collection of water charges
from users. It is felt that with improvement in collection of water charges, irrigation
projects may not languish for maintenance for want of funds and in this way overall
efficiency of irrigation systems will improve. This will help saving of water and
optimum utilization of water.
35
Annex-A
I. Water Audit
(i) Water audit is an important management tool for effective conservation of water. Broadly
water audit should be conducted categorically in two systems, resource audit or supply
side audit and the other one as consumption audit on demand side. All efforts should be
made for improvement of not only water use efficiency and distribution system, but also
on the efficient development and management of the source of water.
(ii) It has been strongly advocated that the water audit system needs to be framed and
incorporated in every significant water resources project as a routine exercise during
operation and maintenance of the project by the project authorities. A separate cell may
be constituted for this purpose. This is as per suggestion of Govt. of Maharashtra. They
have established a separate Chief Engineer’s Office for this purpose.
(iii) The periodicity of water audit and its report may be determined in advance at the
commencement of commissioning the project by the project authority and the concerned
Governments and appropriate provision of fund may be made for its implementation. In
general, it may be carried out annually.
(iv) The recommendations in the water audit report for corrective measures of the system
may be considered on priority for implementation by the competent authority. All efforts
should also be made to provide all technical and financial provisions in a time bound
manner.
(v) The irrigation sector utilizes about 83% of water as a major stakeholder. Due to the thrust
on account of rapid urbanization and modernization, the demands for domestic and
industrial uses are progressively increasing, thus creating a situation of competing of
demands from value added sectors of water use and threatening irrigation sector even in
maintaining current level of water use whereas more water is needed for growing more to
meet the demand of growing population. A systematic comprehensive water audit will be
very useful in bringing out the trend of changes on demand and supply scenario which
will help in deciding the methodology for improving the efficiency of the system by
adopting conjunctive use of surface and ground water, application of modern irrigation
techniques including drip and sprinkler irrigation wherever feasible and other improvised
agricultural devices in addition to development of wasteland and waterlogged areas.
(vi) Due to over exploitation of ground water, the water table at vulnerable places like thickly
populated urban areas are depleting at very fast rate. Private tube wells are mushrooming
36
without control, to meet the growing demand. Industries should be discouraged to exploit
ground water on their own. As far as possible supplies to industries should be from
surface water and if ground water supply is considered essential, it should be managed
by a Government Agency. There is general apathy towards conjunctive use of ground
water and surface water. Specific water audit needs to be conducted on regular basis for
realistic assessment of ground realities and initiating remedial measures under the
umbrella of holistic approach.
(vii) Pollution level of fresh surface water and ground water resources are alarmingly
increasing due to excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers in agriculture and discharge
of untreated waste by industries and sewage disposal leading to health hazards and
scarcity of fresh water. Water audit from this angle needs to be conducted strategically
and periodically. The existing laws regarding pollution control need to be strictly
observed by not only imposing penalties but also restricting the polluters.
(viii) To prevent wastage of water, pricing of water for irrigation, domestic and industrial
uses needs to be revised and updated periodically so that subsidy is phased out as quickly
as possible and at least operation and maintenance cost is recovered for sustainability of
the system. Further, gradually the pricing of water at flat rate system needs to be replaced
by actual cost rate by volume. The differential pricing system should also be suitably
introduced keeping in view the socio-economic aspects of the people and the region in
addition to their life style and ethnic background.
(ix) Benchmarking system of various suitable parameters for all sectors of water use may be
developed and introduced for optimizing and enhancing the efficiency of the system. It is
an effective tool for water audit and measurement of relative performance and suggests
ameliorative measures for performance improvement.
(x) To identify source of water loss due to leakage, the approach of bulk metering system
should be installed at various well defined macro and micro systems like various zones,
districts, towns, colonies and even large group-consumers to single unit consumers so
that water audit can be effectively conducted.
(i) Water Conservation is prime and challenging concern. Numerous types of water
conservation techniques are available in the country. The scientists constantly
innovate the new techniques, but there is a gap on the application of the appropriate
technologies, which needs to be removed. Due to lack of proper operation and
maintenance in irrigation, industry and domestic water distribution system, there is
huge loss of water. Hence it is emphasized to improve the O&M system.
(ii)For developing the water resources, age-old traditional water conservation methods
need to be judiciously adopted in conjunction with the latest modern conservation
technology. Keeping this in view, rain water harvesting, revival of traditional water
storages, check dams and other similar structures need to be adopted. Building
byelaws should be suitably modified to introduce mandatory roof top rain water
harvesting.
37
(iii) In order to conserve precious fresh water, recycling of waste water may be
incorporated wherever feasible. Dual water supply system, one for treated wastewater
and the other for fresh water may be introduced so that treated waste water can be
used for secondary purposes such as toilets flushing, gardening, agriculture and
selective industries etc. New urban colonies, big hotels industries and other similar
establishments should have mandatory dual water supply systems.
(iv) Cropping pattern and crops water requirement varies from time to time due to the
dynamic socio-economic condition of the people and the region in addition to geo-
morphological, climatic and metrological changes. Hence, for effective management,
appropriate base line data for water demand under different situations needs to be
brought out for optimum crop water management and field activities considering
effective rainfall in different physiological stages.
(v)Night irrigation practice may be introduced to minimize evaporation loss thus
conserving irrigation water. Timely and need based irrigation should be done to
minimize loss of water. Further, for boosting productivity, rotational cropping pattern
may be introduced for balancing fertility of soil and natural pest control.
(vi) Various water savings devices are being developed under various ongoing R&D
Programmes. These devices may be suitably adopted in the system.
(vii) Strategic mass awareness campaign should be conducted regularly to cover all
stakeholders, including service providers and consumers, for water conservation in
irrigation, domestic and industrial sectors. Special attention must be given so that the
fruits of the campaign must reach the children, housewives and farmers effectively.
38
Annex-B
39
Proforma-I
Water Demand
Name of Section Area expected to be irrigated Projected consumption Requirement of water Remarks
Seasonal Perennial Total ha/Mcum for section
ha ha ha Mcum
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Note: The requirement of water shall be calculated from the projected consumption values of ha/Mcum (in Col. 5) or as per the
directives issued by the Govt. from time to time.
Proforma-II
Water Indent
Name of Project/Canal Section
Irrigation Year Sub-Division:
Type of irrigation Area expected to be irrigated Projected consumption Requirement of water Remarks
Seasonal Perennial Total ha/Mcum for section
ha ha ha Mcum
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
A) Flow Irrigation
1. Direct Outlet
2. Minors
3. Distributaries
4. Others
Total (A)
B) Lift Irrigation
1. Reservoir
2. Canal
3. River/Nalla
4. Well
Total (B)
Total (A+B)
Note: The requirement of water shall be calculated from the projected consumption values of ha/Mcum (in Col. 5) or as per the directives
issued by the Govt. from time to time.
Section Officer
------- Section
Proforma-III
Daily Discharge Drawn by Various Sections
Name of Project/Canal Section
Irrigation Year Sub-Division:
(Discharge in Cumec)
Date Discharge Discharge drawn by various sections of Utilisation of Water Remarks
drawn at a sub-division
head of Sect. 1 Sect. 2 Sect. 3 Sect. 4 For irrigation For non Let into Total (Col. 7
subdivision use irrigation tail tank to 9)
use or escape
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Date Time Reservoir Pickup weir Discharge let Discharge at various locations For Tail/feeder tank Discharge
out in in cumec non of Channel
Right/Left irrigati off-taking
Bank Canal o n use from tail/
feeder tank
R.L. Storage Discharge Gauge Storage Gau Dischar Gaug Gaug Gaug Gauge Discharge of Depth Storage
released ge ge e @ e @ e @ @ RD Tail Canal
RD RD RD
m Mcum cumec m Mcum m Cumec Cum Cum Cum Cumec Cumec Cumec m Mcum Cumec
ec ec ec
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Note: Separate sheets for Left and Right bank canal to be used.
Sectional Officer
Proforma-V
Name of Type of Irrigation Water used by Area Irrigated Area irrigated Remarks
Section Section ha/ Mcum (8/4)
Day Mcum Seasonal Perennial Others Total
cumec
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Flow Irrigation
1. Direct Outlet on main canal
2. Distributaries/Branch
3. Minors
4. Others
Total (A)
B) Lift Irrigation
1. Reservoir
2. Canal
3. River
4. Well
Total (B)
Grand Total (A+B)
Note: Separate sheet to be used for each section under the Sub-Division.
(Area in ha)
Type of Irrigation Water used by Section Area Irrigated Area Remarks
irrigated ha/
Day Mcum Seasonal Perennial Others Total Mcum (7/3)
cumec
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Flow Irrigation
1. Direct Outlet on main canal
2. Distributaries/Branch
3. Minors
4. Others*
Total (A)
B) Lift Irrigation
1. Reservoir
2. Canal
3. River
4. Well
Total (B)
Grand Total (A+B)
*Includes irrigation on percolation.
Sectional Officer
………. Section
Proforma-VII
Discharge letout through scouring sluices or escapes (Sub Division)
Sub-Divisional Engineer
……..Sub-Division
Proforma-VIII
Discharge letout through scouring sluices of escapes (Section)
Unit : mm
Unit : mm
Recording Station
Rainfall Evaporation Rainfall Evaporation Rainfall Evaporation
Note: Rainfall data of nearest rain gauge station or meteorological laboratory should be recorded.
Sub-Divisional Engineer
……..Sub-Division
Proforma - X
Rainfall/Evaporation (Section)
Unit : mm
Recording Station
Rainfall Evaporation Rainfall Evaporation Rainfall Evaporation
Note: Rainfall data of nearest rain gauge station or meteorological laboratory should be recorded.
Section Officer
……….Section
Proforma XI
Water Year:
Name of Circle:
Name of Division:
Project No….
District
Taluka
Sub-basin No.
Name of project
Type of Project (Major/Medium)
1. Designed storage
a. Gross
b. Live
c. Carry over
2. Maximum Live Storage observed in the year
3. Actual live storage as on attained
a. 1st July
b. 15th October
c. 1st March
4. Water remained unutilized by 30th June
5. Replenishment received in June
6. Reasons for unutilisation
7. Projected Water use in Mcum for ……
a. Irrigation
1. Kharif
2. Rabi
3. Hot weather
4. Perennial
b. Non Irrigation
1. Industries
2. Domestic
c. Evaporation
Total (7a+7b+7c)
8. Lifts
9. Evaporation Losses
10. Leakages through dam
11. Water drawn at canal head for irrigation in Mcum for…..
a. Kharif
b. Rabi
c. Hot weather
Total (11a+11b+11c)
12. Water lifted from reservoir (Mcum)
a. Irrigation
b. Non Irrigation
1. Industries
2. Domestic
Total (12a+12b) in Mcum
13. Water released through escapes
14. Evaporation from reservoir
15. Water lost through leakages from dam
a. Quantity
b. Percentage
16. Total utilisation + Losses (11+12+13+14+15) in Mcum
17. Area Irrigated in ha.
a. By flow irrigation
1. Kharif
2. Rabi
3. Hot weather
Total 17a(1+2+3)
b. By lift irrigation
Total 17(a) + 17(b)
18. Area irrigated on Wells/Rivers/Drains in influence area
19. Water use efficiency (ha/Mcum): Col. 17 (a+b) + Col. 18 /Col. 16
20. Remarks:
Proforma XII
Water Year:
Name of Circle:
Name of Division:
Project No….
District
Taluka
Sub-basin No.
Name of project
1. Designed storage
a. Gross
b. Live
2. Maximum Live Storage observed in the year
4. Water drawn at canal head for irrigation in Mcum for ……
a. Kharif
b. Rabi
c. Hot weather
Total (4a+4b+4c)
5. Lifts
6. Evaporation Losses
7. Leakages through dam
8. Total (3+4+5+6+7)
9. Actual Area Irrigated for………..
a. Kharif
b. Rabi
c. Hot weather
Total Area Irrigated (9a+9b+9c)
10. Non irrigation use
11. Water remained unutilized on 30th June
12. Water use efficiency (ha/Mcum) – (Col. 9/ Col. 8)
13. Remarks
Name of Circle: Name of Division: Project No…. District Taluka Sub-basin No. Name of
project 1. Designed
Proforma XIII
Water Auditing
I Records
II Water use
V Water Account
VI Lift Irrigation
1. Mode of measurement of water
2. Register of sanctions of lifts
3. Whether deposit amount is recovered from all schemes
4. How many schemes could not function in prescribed time limit? What action is taken in this respect
5. Whether all functioning schemes are having their agreements?
6. Whether register of details of lifts is maintained?
7. Whether register of details of lifts on notified rivers/nallas is maintained?
VII Conjunctive use of water
1. Whether pre and post monsoon inspections of canal are carried out? Whether any major defect is
observed? What corrective measures are suggested?
2. Action taken for maintenance & repairs of canals and all the control structures
X Miscellaneous
1. Details of Public Notices
2. Abstract of water applications
3. Register of rainfall and evaporation
4. Register of losses due to natural calamities
5. Whether Irrigated area is checked by the EE during inspection? and how much?
6. Whether and unauthorized irrigation was observed? What action is taken?
7. Whether diaries (10 days) are submitted by the canal inspectors?
8. Whether office inspection of canal inspectors is done by the section officer?
9. Whether revenue from fruit bearing trees is collected regularly?
10. Whether Notice board is available?
11. Whether copy of Irrigation Act is available in section office?
12. Whether details of standing crops are submitted?
13. Measures being taken for enhancing Government revenue
14. Whether any water logged/salt affected area is observed?
15. Measures adopted for promoting modern methods of irrigation
16. Trainings, Demonstrations, Study tours conducted
17. Whether surprise checks are made for the accounts of Section/Sub Division
Annex- C
Month JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC TOTAL
WATER DELIVERED
1. Total Water Supply to Distribution System
2. Adjustments to Water Delivery
3. Net Water Produced
WATER USED
4. Metered Water Supplied
Residential
Commercial
Industrial
Institutional
Other
Total
5. Billed Unmetered Sales
6. Unbilled Authorized Consumption
Water Main Lines Flushing
Sewer/Storm Drain Flushing
Parks/Playgrounds/Swimming Pools
Golf Courses
Cemeteries
Road
Medians
Schools
Training/Fire Fighting
Construction
Storage Tank
Sewer Plant
Total
7. Apparent Water Losses
Water Meter Malfunction
Theft
Other
Total
8. Real Water Losses
Leaks
Storage Overflow
Other
Total
9. Net Loss of Unmeasured Water
10. Percentage of Loss of Unmeasured Water