Come peak summer, the Delhi Jal Board would be aiming to produce 914 million gallons per day (MGD) of treated water, increasing its target from last year’s 900 MGD.
Pre-summer ritual
As per the Jal Board’s summer action plan document, an annual pre-summer ritual, the water utility would work towards increasing production from its treatment plants, tubewells and ranney wells, as well as ramping up use of recycled waste-water.
Model Code of Conduct
Though Delhi’s supply of raw water hasn’t increased, the Jal Board is aiming to improve efficiency and reduce losses to add supply.
Unlike previous years, the summer action plan was not released officially at an event this time due to the Model Code of Conduct being enforced ahead of the April 23 municipal elections in the Capital, a senior Jal Board official said. Elections to two wards are pending.
As per the plan, the water utility would aim to increase production from its treatment plants to 829 MGD and supply from tubewells and ranney wells to 85 MGD. The total number of tubewells would be increased to 4,244 by adding 119 new ones before the peak summer hits.
As of April 10, the most recent date for which the daily water production report is available, the DJB produced 897.50 MGD of water.
Preventive maintenance
Of that, nine treatment plants produced 787.50 MGD, four recycling plants produced 30 MGD and ranney wells and tubewells supplied 80 MGD.
With preventive maintenance of plants being completed, the Jal Board is hoping to stave off shut-downs and maintain peak production levels as needed.
Various proposals
In order to prevent leakage and contamination, the action plan proposed replacing 65 km of old pipelines as well as laying 360 km of new ones.
‘No crisis’
In addition, the action plan has proposed supplying water through 932 tankers at 16,668 supply points to those who lack access to piped water.
While the Jal Board is hoping that this summer goes off without a crisis, it has set up several mechanisms to receive complaints.
Consumer complaints
Consumers can register complaints through the helpline, 1916, or the DJB app or website. As per the action plan, the water utility received 2.20 lakh complaints regarding water contamination, lack of water supply and sewer blockages from April 1, 2016, till October 31, 2016. About 98% of these have been addressed.
