Introduction
Clean water is a basic necessity and an important resource for sustaining life. Potable Water constitutes a worldwide challenge for the 21st century, in terms of both the management of available water resources and the provision of access to drinking water. Clean and regular supply of water to every household is utmost priority for every government, however, the provision to provide clean and adequate drinking water to the burgeoning Indian population is a major challenge.
In order to set minimum requirements for water quality and distribution system, a certifiable standard was needed for following by Water Utilities or Water Suppliers which include Public Health Engineering Departments (PHEDs), Municipal Corporations and Jal Boards of the states and Union Territories responsible for supply of drinking water to the people of the country.
As National Standards Body of the country, BIS took the initiative to formulate an Indian Standard on this subject. The Sectional Committee on Public Drinking Water Services, SSD 14, was created under Service Sector Divisional Council, SSDC and this committee represented by experts from different stakeholders including water utilities, associations, Ministry of Jal Shakti and other government bodies formulated IS 17482:2020 ‘Drinking Water Supply Management System — Requirements for Piped Drinking Water Supply Service’.
Salient features of IS 17482:2020
a) The standard, IS 17482, covers all the activities of the water utility starting from the intake of raw water from the source, treatment of water, testing, storage of clean water in reservoirs, and its transportation up till its distribution to the customer point and guides the water utility regarding the management system aspect at every step of the activities. The provisions are made to provide the clean water that conforms to IS 10500 ‘Specification for Drinking Water’ at customer point.
b) The standard specifies the requirements for management system of drinking water supplier/utility and for the assessment of piped drinking water supply services where the water supplier/utility,
1) needs to demonstrate its ability and performance to consistently provide drinking water and related utility services while ensuring compliance to applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.
2) aims to ensure continuous supply of piped drinking water conforming to the acceptable limit of IS 10500.
c) The standard provides that, apart from the other requirements to be fulfilled, the top management of the water utility has to ensure that,
1) adequate infrastructure is provided to implement the standard.
2) the processes are delivering their intended outputs
3) proper safety arrangements are made for work force engaged in treatment and supply of water.
4) plan for emergencies and disasters management is prepared.
5) the promotion of customer focus and mechanism to receive the customer feedback about the Quality and Water Supply Services.
d) The losses during transmission and distribution of drinking water needs special attention by the water utilities/supplier and has to be minimized to the extent possible. Provisions are given in the standard to carry-out the Water Audit and water utility has to ensure that non-revenue water (NRW) shall not exceed 20 percent.
e) Top management has to review the performance of water utility at regular interval to ensure its effectiveness, adequacy, continuing suitability, etc.
Implementation
In order to have a uniform drinking water supply system in the country, the implementation of IS 17482:2020 by all water utilities of the states / UTs needs to be ensured which would help the government to provide clean water and related services to every citizen.
Written by – Divya S
Scientist – C
Bureau of Indian Standards