Lakhs go down rusting pipelines, leaks not fixed in Mumbai

Even after spending Rs1.90 lakh to replace old pipes, the civic body failed to stop leakages and was unable to reduce the amount of wasted water.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) supplies 3,400million litres of water every day, out of which 20% (700million litres) goes to waste because of leaks.

The city’s 400-km of old pipes and illegal connections are responsible for this colossal waste. Therefore, the BMC has decided to conduct a study of a cross-section of Mumbai to identify how this water is wasted, the percentage of the leakage and how to prevent it.

The civic body also started a five-year project Sujal Mumbai Abhiyan (Clean Water Project) in 2007, under which a proposal was mooted to replace old and dilapidated pipelines.
Under this the BMC has spent Rs450 crore in last four years to trace the leaks and replace the old pipes.

Almost 227-km of old pipes has been replaced and 209 km repaired in the last four years.

“A 20% leakage is an approximate figure. We have started a study on the leakage of water. We will confirm after completing the study,” said an official from the hydraulic department.

“Through this study we will identify and analyse whether the amount of water being supplied reaches the consumer without any loss. The project will be completed by October and we will then decide on our next move,” he added.