Believe it or not, nearly 50 per cent of the water supplied in the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) divisions 2 and 6 of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) are unaccounted for water (UFW).

Of the 50 per cent, nearly 25 per cent of water is lost due to leakages in water pipelines, losses in the distribution system and the remaining 25 per cent are due to commercial losses, illegal connections, tampering of water meters by consumers, consumers having more than one water connection and non-functioning of water meters, etc.

To bring down the current level of UFW including water audit upto the section and docket levels in the service area of HMWSSB, a pilot UFW project will be taken up the in the two O&M divisions.

HMWS&SB officials told Express that the water board has invited Expression of Interest (EoI) for consultancy study purposes in order to prepare detailed project reports (DPRs) on UFW reduction in the above two divisions. Consultants with experience in the formulation of proposals for UFW reduction in the water supply system have been asked to submit the EoI before October 10, they added.

The water board wanted to engage the consultants for preparation of DPRs containing technical proposals with detailed implementable project components for the two divisions by duly arriving at the base costs for UFW reduction and studying the section level and docket level metering in the water supply network of Operation & Maintenance Division of 2 and 6 respectively.

The study includes two parts -- part A includes carrying out necessary surveys and investigations, design and establishing DMAs, measuring the initial values of UFW and leakages, determining all necessary remedial and improvement measures in the areas assigned to reduce UFW to 16 percent overall in the jurisdiction of O&M 2 and 6.

While part B includes the study of all the sources of supply to various sections and dockets within the sections and finalise suitable locations for fixing bulk flow meters connected to central SCADA, so as to measure actual quantities of water supplied to the sections and dockets and also arrive at UFW valves in each O&M section and docket for a complete water audit in each section under the two O&M divisions.

The project envisages plugging of water leakages, thus ensuring high water pressure and minimising losses in the distribution system. Currently, water leakage in the city is between 45 and 50 per cent.

However, the internationally accepted level of permissible leakage is a maximum of 20 to 25 per cent. With the UFW project, the HMWWS&SB aims to bring it down to less than half. 

The HMWS&SB has been apprised about the project proposals to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) team which visited the city a couple of months ago. The JICA expressed consent to extend the loan assistance to the said project. After due process at their head office, they have agreed to send the next appraisal team along with with the JICA director for further process.

The pilot project covers Division 2 encompassing Yakutpura, Talab Katta, Talabchanchalam, Saidabad Colony, Shalibanda, Santosh Nagar, Rein Bazar, Pool Bagh, Rakshapuram, Patherghatti, Moosaramabgh, Lal Darwaza, Misrigunj, Himmatpura, Kala Dera, IS Sadan, Imblibun, Jahanuma, Kanchanbagh, Jangamet, Hafeezbaba Nagar, Ghansi Bazar, Gowlipura, Malakpet, Uppuguda, Asmangadh, Chandrayangutta, Edi Bazar, Chanchalguda, Bhavani Nagar, Barkas, Aliabad, Akberbagh and other localities.

Division-6 covers Somajiguda, Punjagutta, MS Maktha, BS Maktha, Yellareddyguda,  Srinagar Colony, Banjara Hills, Green Lands, Erramanzil, Krishnanagar, Jubilee Hills, Erragadda, Borabanda, Madhura Nagar, Sanathnagar, SR Nagar, BK Guda, Ameerpet, Balkampet, Chintal Basthi,

Vengal Rao Nagar, Guttala Begumpet, Fathenagar, Venkatagiri, Yousufguda and other areas.