Water & Wastewater Asia March/April 2019

OPINION | 49
India is facing its worst water crisis in
history. And according to NITI Aayog’s
(National Institution for Transforming
India) latest report, the government ‘think
tank’ in providing both directional and
policy inputs, 21 Indian cities will run out of
groundwater by 2020.
Water in India plays a strong role in the
nation’s progress towards social and
monetary developments. As the second
most populous country in the world, with
more than 1.2 billion individuals (Census,
2011), India’s national assets are under
huge pressure — “water” being the most
fundamental. The growing population has
dwindled the per capita surface water
availability from 2,309 cubic metres (Sharma
and Bharat 2009) in 1991 to 1,588 cubic
metres in 2001 (CWC, 2010). And it has
been projected to further reduce to 1,000
cubic metres by the year 2025 due to the
ever-growing population and its demand,
which will prompt a water crisis.
While India does not currently fall into the
water scarce category, the country is still
classified as being water stressed. Many
Indian towns are battling with water stress
where, ironically, water is available but the
quality is a serious issue.
As the country continues to develop rapidly,
the increasing purchasing power of the
people along with the higher standard of
living can lead to the deluge of population in
urban areas, destitution and more, causing
bigger constraints on water assets. Severe
climate change which result in the Himalayan
glaciers receding as well as the increasing
dry spells and decreasing precipitation can
impact water resources and place pressure
on the country’s water assets too.
According to the Composite Water
Management Index’ (CWMI) in the NITI
Aayog report, nearly 600 million Indians
face high to extreme water stress and
about 200,000 people die every year due
to inadequate access to clean water. In
fact, more than 40 per cent of the country’s
annual water supply is used unsustainably
every year and the situation is likely to
worsen as the demand for potable water will
exceed the supply by 2050.
In a report by the ASSOCHAM (Associated
Chambers of Commerce and Industry of
India) and Skymet Weather Services, as the
number of sweltering days continues to rise,
the water shortage conditions are turning
into Latur-like water emergency situation
too. The report also noted that nine Indian
states are reeling under the dry season due
to the rise in temperature annually.
NON-REVENUE WATER SYNOPSIS
Non-revenue water (NRW) is water that has
been created and lost before it achieves or
reaches the client or the end user. Some
reasons that causes NRW are spillage
because of maturing funnels, burglary
through unlawful associations and illegal
fiddling with water meters. Hence, water
management network needs to revamp and
implement process automation in order to
track leaks and spills on an immediate basis.
As the country advances, issues with NRW
should decrease. But water companies and
utilities are not able keep up with the pace of
development in population and urbanisation,
which have brought about increased water
wastage.
Japan’s NRW percentage across the country
is under 10 per cent — astoundingly
low for global standards. This is an
indication of the country’s thriving
water management as the Japanese are
fastidious in finishing their work and have
confidence in their innovation as well as the
perseverant to deal with issues. In India,
urban communities with a population of one
million individuals require 210 litres/day
per capita but could only receive a supply
of 25 litres/day per capita due to spillages,
of which 35 per cent of the time the reasons
are unknown.
YEAR 2019 VISION: TARGETING
24X7 WATER SUPPLY
In the Union Budget 2017-18, numerous
policies were introduced such as UDAY,
amendments in National Electricity Act, new
solar RPO target for states, bio fuel policy,
small hydro policy, offshore wind policy and
new hydrocarbon policy. These would have,
in a way, helped boost the eco system and
attract global investors to India. However,
the country was fraught with water mismanagement
issues and clashes over water
resources between states.
Reforms are needed this year with a focus
on reducing NRW, collecting groundwater
and taking steps to control water wastage.
In the CWMI report, 21 Indian cities including
Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad,
will run out of groundwater by 2020, which
will affect 100 million people. This can lead
to about 40 per cent of India’s population
having no access to drinking water by 2030.
Therefore, it is important to study and
evaluate the aspects of water risk and water
management at various touch points such
as watershed, river basin level or catchment
area. The time has come for a joint meeting
with water management bodies across the
states to discuss about IIoT and AI, which
can help to reduce NRW in India.
The only way to tackle this frightening water
issue is to take strategic action. Otherwise,
it will be too late when the country’s water
resources have run dry and no drop of water
is left! We need to adopt new technologies,
co-innovate and integrate it to achieve the
goal of REDUCING WATER WASTAGE. WWA
Water & Wastewater Asia • March / April 2019