the goan I network
PANAJI
In 2007, JICA began works by installation of water treatment plants and distribution pipes. It was observed that the major problem in non revenue losses was during the flow of water from treatment plants to the end consumer.
Non Revenue Water (NRW) is the difference between the volume of water fed into a water distribution system and that for which customers are billed. The causes of NRW include leakages due to aging pipes, theft through illegal connections, and tampering of meters.
The first step in the project was to investigate the current situation, plan a long term reduction plan and then undertake three pilot projects.
Water leakages were identified through listening rods. The PWD has said it aimed that ensuring 24-hour water supply, for which they too took part in identifying and repairing of leakages in the state’s water network.
The project area is for the entire state of Goa. JICA aims at introducing technologies and skills for NRW reduction, including new water meters and pipes that will keep track of the amount of water that has passed through it at a particular time.
The three pilot areas under the project include the Salaulim, Opa and Assonora water supply plants where the water loss at source was contained.
The average NRW ratio in Goa is estimated to be about 45 per cent in year 2011. Under JICA, training was provided by Japanese officials to PWD officials. Both the departments worked in household surveys to collect particulars about water supply conditions of consumers, inspection of water connections viz water meters, preparation of pipe network drawings, conducting leak sound surveys of water connections and leak sound detection along distribution pipelines.
