Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Minister for Drinking Water Subhash Phal Dessai said that losses in Goa’s water supply system are largely caused by leakages from aging infrastructure, pipe bursts, and operational issues, with the State’s Non-Revenue Water (NRW) averaging around 40 per cent.
Replying to a starred question in the Goa Legislative Assembly, Dessai explained that water losses occur due to multiple factors including leakage from mains caused by corrosion, poor joint quality, and aging pipelines, many of which remain undetected for years. “Sudden pipe bursts also occur due to high pressure, pressure fluctuations or ground movement caused by subsidence and construction activity,” he said.
The Minister said water is also lost when storage tanks and service reservoirs overflow due to sensor or valve failures, and through leaks in small-diameter service pipes connecting mains to individual houses and buildings.
“Losses also occur due to water theft and illegal connections, including unauthorised tapping of mains and bypassing of meters,” Dessai said, adding that other contributing factors include high water pressure, cast iron and asbestos cement pipes nearing the end of their service life, corrosive soil conditions, and extreme temperature variations causing pipe expansion and fractures.
The Minister informed the House that the average NRW across the State is around 40 per cent, which includes leakage, theft, overflows, non-functional or insensitive meters, unauthorised consumption, unbilled connections, water used for flushing of lines, fire-fighting and free tanker supply. However, he clarified that the exact percentage of water loss due specifically to leakages and theft cannot be quantified.
Dessai said that pilot studies at three locations were conducted between 2011 and 2013 under the Capacity Development Project for Non-Revenue Water Reduction in Goa to assess physical losses and identify measures to reduce NRW.
On corrective measures, the Minister said replacement of old and aged pipelines is a continuous, phase-wise process. “Replacement of 217.08 km of pipelines is currently ongoing, and the remaining old pipelines are targeted to be replaced over the next three to seven years,” he stated.
Addressing concerns over water theft, Dessai said no major cases have been reported, barring occasional instances of domestic water being used for construction or commercial purposes. “Provisions exist in the water tariff rules to levy penalties and reclassify connections after issuing show-cause notices and conducting due inquiries,” he added.
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