HYDERABAD: Continuing its privatisation spree, the Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB), on an experimental basis, is roping in the services of a Malaysian water management firm to carry out a study of the water supply network to check largescale distribution losses and non-revenue water.

A staggering 40 per cent of water is lost owing to leakages in the distribution process and illegal connections, putting a huge dent into the water board's revenue flow. According to a board estimate, a staggering 30 per cent of its 5.3 lakh connections in the twin cities and surrounding municipalities were illegal. "To begin with, we will select a section and study the distribution network there apart from the supply pattern, vulnerable leakage points and also the number of illegal connections," HMWSSB Managing Director K.S. Jawahar Reddy said. The board is likely to enter into a pact with the Malaysian firm later this month.

Water meters

As a part of its water audit exercise, the HMWSSB is also installing sophisticated bulk water meters in 80 of its distribution reservoirs to check the volume of water entering into them from the water treatment plants. 170 bulk flow meters were being installed in select areas on its distribution system on an experimental basis and a sum of Rs. 10 crores was sanctioned for the purpose.

The exercise was to check water wastage in the distribution process and also imbalances in the water supply and corresponding revenue accrued from it, he explained.

"We want to zero in on the actual volume of water being supplied from the water sources and the quantum of distribution losses. The meters will be fixed to the inlet and outlet points of the reservoirs, tabulating the real water volumes. This is one of the measures to check the huge revenue loss being suffered by the water board due to pilferage and illegal connections," he explained.

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