BIS to push for certification of public water supply

The Bureau plans to approach officials of water supply boards to discuss the issue

BIS wants to ensure safe and adequate drinking water is supplied to the people. | Photo Credit: istock

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), southern region, will approach government water agencies this month to go go in for BIS certification for water supplied through pipelines. The objective was to ensure better standards to improve infrastructure and render quality services to people.

A team of BIS officials recently discussed about implementation of the Indian Standards “Drinking water supply management system-requirements for piped drinking water supply service” at the Standardisation Committee headed by the Chief Secretary.

Officials of the BIS said the quality standards, IS 17482: 2020, were not mandatory for the government water supply utilities. However, BIS plans to approach the agencies to implement the standards to ensure supply of safe and adequate drinking water as per IS 10500:2012. The standards outlines the process of water supply right from drawal of raw water, treatment to storage and distribution to consumers.

U.S.P. Yadav, Deputy Director-General, BIS, Southern region office, said: “We will approach water utilities like Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board and Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board to create awareness about the standards for potable tap water supply this month. We will coordinate and train officials in implementing the standards and obtain BIS certification.”

Although the government agencies might be using the BIS-certified products for their services, the infrastructure and process involved were yet to be certified for their quality. An additional third party certification for public water supply would help boost customers’ confidence with increased efficiency in services, said Mr. Yadav, who was part of the committee that drafted the standard.

For instance, the standard had prescribed guidelines to test raw water samples to estimate the level of disinfetction needed to meet the required quality of water supply. Testing and monitoring of water samples at various stages had been emphasised.

There were standards for emergency plan, infrastructure maintenance and communication with customers too. The BIS had come up with guidelines to conduct periodical water audits and about size and design of district metered areas required for 24-hour water supply.

Officials said the water utilities in other places such as Mysuru and Vijayawada had been approached to adopt the standard.