The water supply service levels in the twin-cities of Hubli-Dharwad are very poor due to improper maintenance of the distribution system. Moreover, there were huge losses in the distribution system due to leaking pipes, illegal connections, etc. This has resulted in unequal distribution, and citizens are not provided water supply for long intervals. The gap between expenditure on water supply and recovery from water charges was substantial. To ensure effective provision of water supply to all citizens including the urban poor and disadvantaged sections of the population, it was assumed that Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWS&DB) would be in a position to make suitable improvements to the system, thereby reduce losses in distribution system.
Various activities have been initiated, like energy conservation measures, reduction in non-revenue water (NRW), metering, 24X7 water supply on a demonstration basis for efficient water management. An energy audit has been conducted by involving Tata Energy Research Institute, in February 2003, at all pumping stations. There has been a considerable increase in pressure due to replacement of old damaged PVC pipes by High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipes and Medium Density Polyethylene (MDPE) pipes for house service connections, laying of feeder mains, and control on leakages. Engineers have conducted a survey to identify meter feasible zones, and meters have been installed after improvement in pressure over the last three years. Metering required a lot of efforts to change the mindset of consumer and political leaders, which has been done through continuous campaigning by press, cable TV, posters, hand bills, mike announcement, customer meetings etc. Hubli Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) had conducted a survey in August 2002 to identify illegal water connections, and detected around 21,072 illegal connections as against 68,997 authorised connections. Around 18,000 illegal connections have been regularized, and continuous efforts are being made to regularise the remaining. HDPE pipes of upto 250 mm dia have been used in the distribution system, which has resulted in considerable reduction in water losses. It was decided to use MDPE pipes for House Service Connections (HSC) to reduce leakages at joints, and due to corrosion. Uniformity in pipe material has made the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) work easier and helped to minimise the losses and avoid illegal connections.

Maintenance of 'bulk water system' has been outsourced to enhance the efficiency in O&M. A topographical survey using GPS instruments has been carried out at all the stations to capture data and obtain digitised maps.

The network has been extended to all localities, and subsidies & incentives have been provided to the poor on new connection with installment facility. The cost of new HSCs and maintenance is borne under theb O&M account.

Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development & Finance Corporation (KUIDFC) has implemented 24X7 water supply in selected zones in Hubli and Dharwad under the World Bank assisted Karnataka Urban Water Sector Improvement Project.

Subsequently, KUWS&DB has revised the tariffs to reduce the gap between total expenditure and revenue income. Billing, collection, database and accounting have been computerized, and to facilitate the bill payment procedures, one mobile bank counter and 23 bank counters along with the cash counters at corporation's zonal offices have been opened. HDMC has started to collect the development charges as "Prorata Charges" towards improvement in water supply from consumers who have not paid earlier.

• Direct Energy Saving - 3.12 million units (corresponding cost saving @ Rs. 3.25 per unit, thus, is Rs. 101.4 lakhs during the period of Sep. 2004 to Oct. 2007)
• Demand saving - 25,485 KVA (corresponding cost saving @ Rs. 180 per KVA, thus, Rs. 45.87 lakhs during the same period mentioned above)
• Energy Saving through enhanced flow - 28.60 Million Units (corresponding cost saving @ Rs.3.25per unit, thus, Rs.929.50 Lakhs during the same period mentioned above)
• About 60% of connections are metered.
• 24X7 water supply in four wards of Hubli with a population of about 36,000 and 6,225 HSCs and four wards in Dharwad with a population of about 34,300 and 5,000 HSCs
• Increase in recovery from about 15.5% in 2001-03 to 35.2% in 2005-07
• Water Supply periodicity reduced from once in 7/8 days to once in 4 days

For further details, contact:

Mr. Jaya Ram
Executive Engineer,
Karnataka Water Board, HDWS