The Hindu       21.01.2011

Singapore experts suggest steps for better water supply

A team of experts from Singapore on Thursday suggested some measures to improve the water distribution network and solid waste management in the city.

The team is in the city in connection with a workshop on Urban Governance and Management Partnership Programme.

Long and short-term strategies are required to solve some of the existing problems. A proper monitoring mechanism is required to reduce the loss of drinking water during distribution, said Choor Sai Meng, specialist, Major Projects, during an interaction with the media on Thursday.

He said the ownership of water meters should be entrusted with the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) rather than with individual households. This would not only bring in transparency but also help to quickly replace faulty meters.

Susan Jacob, technical member, KWA, said steps had already been taken to introduce the system. In collaboration with the Fluid Control Research Institute, Palakkad, the KWA was planning to set up a meter testing laboratory and repair centre at Nettoor, Kochi. These laboratories would be set up on the lines of the one functioning in Singapore. However, replacement of the old meters would take place with the commissioning of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in the city, she said.

The five-day workshop, which concludes on Friday, is being organised by the Local Self-Government Department; Kerala Sustainable Urban Development Project (KSUDP); Temasek Foundation, a Singapore-government investment firm; and the Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE).

Regarding solid waste management, Dan Pitzler, principal technologist, and Kon Chee Min, project delivery manager, CH2M HILL, said untreatable waste rejects accumulated at the dumping ground at Njeliyamparamba should be shifted to a new properly engineered landfill site away from the city. These should be covered without causing environmental problems.