Warangal: GWMC gears up to meet water needs in summer

Warangal: Water management is one of the perennial problems that almost all civic bodies have to confront with. It's bound to happen especially when a city is as big as Greater Warangal, spread across 407 square kilometers and boasting a population of around one million. Water resources may be abundant but without proper management, it's difficult to ensure adequate water supplies to denizens. Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation (GWMC) which usually struggle to ensure adequate drinking water supplies in the city during the summer, this time around seems to be preparing well.

Dharmasagar cheruvu (tank) and the water drawn from Devadula Lift Irrigation scheme are the main sources of drinking water for the denizens of Warangal. The waters drawn from these sources are being treated in the three filter beds located at Waddepally, Kakatiya University and Desaipet. In addition to this, a filter bed is also installed near Dharmasagar tank as part of Mission Bhagiratha with a capacity of 48.5 million litres per day (MLD).

"As of now, the GWMC is able to supply 171 MLD of safe drinking water to the core city. In course of time, the supplies will be improved," Superintending Engineer (GWMC) S Bhaskar Reddy told The Hans India. To improve the supplies through efficient water management, we have sought the expertise of retired Professor of NIT M Pandu Ranga Rao, retired engineer V Jambul Reddy and deputy executive engineer associated with the Dr Marri Chenna Reddy Human Resource Development (MCRHRD) Institute, Hyderabad, B Vijay Kumar, who have a vast experience in the field, Reddy said.

In a two-day session that included field visits, the experts who elicited information about the water management in the city gave tips to the engineers and other staff associated with the water supply. They dwelt at length about the sources of water the city has, filter beds management and supply. The experts also suggested the use of advanced technologies such ultrasonic water level sensors, app-based smart water meters that enables the acquisition of water consumption data and transmits it wirelessly to the network, etc to find out the requirement and supplies.

According to a conservative estimate, at least 20 per cent of the water is being wasted during the distribution. The pipeline which was laid some four decades back is the major reason behind the leakages. Despite the authorities' efforts to plug the water leakages, it has become a major worry.

Prof M Pandu Ranga Rao, drinking water consultant, said that GWMC will soon address all the shortcomings such as leakages. "The impetus is on providing quality drinking water. The water supplied by the GWMC is perfect for drinking. The water is well balanced as it complies with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)." "Instead of running behind the packaged water (mostly treated through reverse osmosis), people should go for tap water supplied by the GWMC," Rao said, referring to the quality maintained by the civic body.