Flowing Forward: Innovative Solutions to India’s Urban Water Supply Challenges

India faces the ambitious task of ensuring 2.68 crore urban household tap water connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban) for 4,378 statutory towns, in alignment with SDG Goal 6. In the face of such ambition, cities like Trichy serve as beacons of innovation, leveraging technology to pioneer effective strategies for water management. While the city’s Municipal Corporation plans to expand water supply by tapping into abandoned quarries, they are also pioneering an AI-powered joint project to detect potable water pipeline leakage and prevent water loss.

Chosen by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for this experimental venture in water management, the example of Trichy has the transformative potential to revolutionize urban water supply nationwide. Many cities are exploring tech-driven solutions for water leak detection systems. While Udaipur has employed satellite-based radar analysis, Delhi has planned to adopt helium-based technology. On an experimental basis, Pune MC has begun using acoustic sensors, and in Mira Bhayandar, “smart” meters have replaced old mechanical ones.

While scientific innovations are addressing water management and monitoring in burgeoning urban areas of India, civic participation persists as an important pillar for conservation. In Kolhapur, there has been a daily loss of 4-5 lakh liters of water due to major leaks at the pumping stations run by the Kolhapur MC (KMC). With regular ordeals of water scarcity since January this year, civic activists marched to the KMC office carrying empty vessels in protest on March 28. Pressurizing officials to address this, multifaceted issues such as monopolies by private water tankers, the plight of women in securing water, and the delayed response of authorities have also been brought to light. Tackling these challenges not only requires innovation but also robust governance and sustained civic involvement to create a water-secure future for Indian cities.

How is your city government handling water leakages? Have you noticed new-age tech innovations being used or growing civic participation in solving such issues?