A draft of the city water policy, which is likely to be a blueprint for the implementation of Kochi Corporation’s future water-related projects and redressal of water problems, may be ready by next month.
The collection of water samples, which was launched on Saturday, as part of a water audit is set to be over by May 25. Kudumbasree members engaged to collect water samples from over 30,000 units, including households, hotels, educational and commercial institutions, spread over all 74 wards in the Corporation have been asked to handover the collected samples by that day. “Quality analysis of water samples would begin on the same day. We will analyse the quality of samples and prepare a water quality atlas using the Geographic Information System,” said Sunny George, director, SCMS Water Institute, which has been engaged by Kochi Corporation for technical support in drafting the water policy.
Apart from Kudumbasree members, 35 M. Tech Environment Engineering students and six faculty members of SCMS Water Institute are also engaged in collection of water samples for detailed scientific analysis of various aspects including saline water intrusion into the Corporation’s inland areas, forecasting the water needs for the next one or two decades, identifying alternative water sources to ensure urban water security through the use of technology, optimisation of drinking water networks in the city and much more. Though the survey is yet to be undertaken, the larger audit process using secondary data is already under way. The audit report and other technical studies would be handed over to the civic body by the SCMS Water Institute based on which a comprehensive water policy would be evolved by the Corporation in consultation with sector-specific experts and stakeholders. “No water policy can be a final document and would have to be revisited at regular intervals. The audit being undertaken now is the first-of-its-kind in any local body and would lay the broad framework for future audits. The use of GIS technology means that the audited locations can be revisited whenever needed,” said Mr. George. A four-page survey form and bottles for water sample collection were distributed to Kudumbasree members on Saturday. They were also given training on how to go about the survey.
