Surat Municipal Corporation provided water of good quality to its citizens, and attained excellence in water-quality surveillance through the use of state-of-the-art technology and quality control mechanisms.



Surat, located in the western part of India in Gujarat, is a very dynamic city with a fast growth-rate due to immigration from various parts of India. As per the Census 2001, the present population of Surat urban agglomeration is 28,11,614. The city has seen an unprecedented growth in the last four decades, recording one of the highest growth rates in the country, and a 10-fold population rise. The city is known for its textile trade, and diamond cutting and polishing industries. The outbreak of plague in 1994 highlighted the highly inadequate urban infrastructure of the city. Surat is known for its ability to convert adversities into advantage.
Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has developed a well-established, networked water-supply system to provide drinking water to a consumer base of 3.25 lakh connections in city limits spread across 334 sq. km. There are ten major water-distribution stations and four pumping stations responsible for effective water distribution to various parts of the city.

With increase in water demand, the SMC constructed an additional water reservoir and associated infrastructure such as water treatment plants (WTPs), storage tanks and distribution stations. However, it was observed that raw-water quality was deteriorating due to the absence of fresh water in the river during non-monsoon seasons, and because of pollution-causing activities in the upper stream. Consequently, the WTPs were unsuccessful in maintaining the desired quality of treated water.

The SMC faced constraints in monitoring the quality of treated and supplied water. The water-quality monitoring parameters, like turbidity in raw water, were checked once a day. Parameters for supplied water, like turbidity, residual chlorine, pH, hardness, alkalinity, chloride etc., were checked only once a week. The instruments and equipment used for water-quality monitoring were outdated, and the quality of reports and data generated by these instruments was neither reliable nor consistent, and involved manual operations. There was no dedicated staff for quality monitoring. There was only one centralised laboratory at the head waterworks, where the parameters were not regularly checked, and a schedule for sample collection did not exist.
With the objective of improving water quality, the Hydraulic Department of the SMC established various water-testing laboratories with modern instruments and equipment. A decentralised water-quality monitoring system was established with one main laboratory at a key water-distribution station and water-quality testing facilities at other waterworks stations. Appropriate technologies, instruments, equipment etc., were installed in accordance with ISO 10500 standards, for effective sampling and monitoring of water quality.

In addition, the Water Quality Surveillance Programme was implemented to ensure the quality of water supplied. To check and measure parameters like pH, turbidity, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, chlorine, ammonical nitrogen, and to achieve desired results, online meters like a multi-parameter deployable river-monitoring instrument, a digital turbidity meter and a digital residual chlorine analyzer, were installed. Arrangements were made for conducting in-house chemical as well as bacteriological tests on a regular basis. Uniform procedures were followed for record-keeping at all the workstations. Fogging activities were taken up in surrounding areas of WTPs. Continuous education and capacity-enhancing programmes were organised for lab technicians, operators etc., for the effective performance of duties. A number of experience-sharing sessions were organised to exchange good practices in the sector. In addition to the above, SMC approached the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to conduct a comprehensive survey to assess vulnerable points in the water supply system, for preparedness against a terrorist attack. As per recommendations, the SMC installed an Online Total Organic Carbon Analyser as a water-contamination information tool.
Four state-of-the-art laboratories at the waterworks and one at the main distribution station were installed, with state-of-the-art technologies and modern instruments and equipment. Staff were specially trained on water-quality monitoring and positioned as microbiologists, technicians, operating chemists, etc.

Consequently, there was regular and accurate monitoring of raw and treated water. Parameters such as turbidity, chlorine, total dissolved solids, pH, colour, dissolved oxygen etc., were measured and monitored. Microbiological parameters were also monitored at the dedicated microbiological lab. River water quality was measured and monitored through the use of imported deployable instruments. Various test formats and logbooks were maintained for water quality. An agency was authorised to perform external maintenance and calibration, and standardised reporting procedures were defined. ISO 10500 standards were strictly followed.

A weeding machine was procured to avoid impurities at the source itself, and the operation has been outsourced to a third party. Further, the installation of an online Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analyser is planned. During 2006–07, 99% samples collected on a daily basis were found to be of good quality.
In-house capacity building, installation of state-of-the-art technology, and systematic quality control mechanisms, have resulted in consumer confidence.

For further details, contact:

Ms. S. Aparna, IAS
Municipal Commissioner
Surat Municipal Corporation
Muglisara, Surat – 395 003