Navi Mumbai realized its vision of 24/7 water supply by acquiring and operating its own source of water. The key features of this initiative are the pro-poor bias in the provision of water supply, along with technical and financial reforms.




Lying on the eastern seaboard of Thane Creek, Navi Mumbai, is one of the largest planned cities of the world. Navi Mumbai is spread over parts of two districts of Maharashtra – Thane and Raigad. The total area of the city is 344 sq. km., of which 108.6 sq. km. is under the jurisdiction of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC). The population of Navi Mumbai is around 12 million, with a growth rate of 82% during 1991–2001. The main economic activities in the area are: industry, commerce, IT services, and fishing & farming in some areas. It is also emerging as the knowledge hub of the region.
Till the year 1999, water supply for the NMMC area was operated and maintained by the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO). On 1 November 1999, it was handed over to NMMC. The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation purchased potable water from Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran (80 MLD), Maharashtra Industrial Corporation (100 MLD) and City & Industrial Development Corporation (20 MLD), and supplied to 70% of its area for three hours in the mornings and an hour in the evening.

Water was supplied to many villages and slums only on alternate days, due to water scarcity. In many villages, water was directly supplied by online boosting, and this caused acute shortage and low pressure. Water storage facilities were absent, and the distribution network in the villages and slums was inadequate. Even in the city area, the distribution network was far from adequate, and needed upgradation. Many residents had to bring water from faraway places to meet their daily requirements.

Given the increasing demand and growth trends experienced by the city, it was apparent that NMMC would face a severe water crisis by 2005. In 2002, therefore, NMMC decided to acquire its own independent and operational source of potable water and a water treatment plant. The corporation declared its vision as the provision of 24X7 water supply by 2010 in the entire NMMC area including gaothans and slums in addition to the developed nodal sector.

The NMMC had been purchasing water at the rate of Rs. 7.50 per cum from MJP and MIDC, and charged the citizens Rs. 4.75 per cum. The subsidy was a heavy burden on the finances of NMMC. Besides the financial burden, low water-pressure and inadequate water supply was a cause of concern in certain areas of NMMC. Further, the water storage capacity was inadequate. The distribution network and feeder mains were old, rusty, and leaking at various points. There was no water metering or water quality monitoring system. Mechanisms for water, energy, and cost recovery audits were absent.
The NMMC appointed a committee to estimate water demand, assess its financial strength, and decide on the feasibility of developing its own source by constructing a dam. Taking into account all factors, the capacity of the dam was established at 450 MLD. Based on the recommendations of the committee, NMMC constructed the Morbe dam and a water treatment plant.

The NMMC provides 305 MLD water from the following sources: Morbe dam (own source) - 160 MLD; CIDCO’s Hetwane dam - 45 MLD; and MIDC’s Barve dam - 100 MLD. 97 ground storage reservoirs (GSRs)/ elevated service reservoirs (ESRs) were constructed to enhance the storage capacity to 200 MLD. A distribution network of 750 km was laid down with pipe diameters ranging from 100 to 1200 mm. The corporation carried out extensive leak detection programmes through physical testing at critical points and also by using conventional methods, thereby reducing unaccounted-for-water significantly.

Of the 32 distribution zones, 12 zones are being supplied with 24 hours of water per day while the remaining are supplied water for 8 hours a day. Compulsory metered connections were approved for urban areas, slums and gaothan areas, in as early as 1999. Subsequently, meters were installed at all residential connections, thus enabling the corporation to provide 24X7 water supply for the entire city. Ultrasonic electromagnetic insertion-type and mechanical-type flow meters were installed at 62 control points for continuous monitoring. A system of daily water audit was adopted. This minimised water losses of the corporation, and allowed accountability of water received as well as distributed everyday. Finally, NMMC introduced water quality testing programmes on a daily basis, and established an environmental laboratory for the purpose.
The distribution network has covered the entire NMMC area, including slums. Consequently, the basic needs of the urban poor in the area have been met. All slums, and the original gaothan, have been provided with ESRs/GSRs, 24X7 water supply, and a metering system.

The corporation provides uninterrupted water supply by relying on dedicated power supply and installing diesel generating sets. Innovative energy-saving measures, like maintaining a power factor of 0.95, were adopted. Inefficient pumps were replaced and gravity water supply has been replaced wherever necessary. A Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system was introduced for main transmission line, which facilitates full control of water distribution by NMMC.

The total construction cost of Morbe dam was Rs. 650 crores, and that of the treatment plant and allied works was Rs. 170 crores. The cost of transmission lines and distribution network was about Rs. 200 crores.

The NMMC is able to provide 24X7 water supply to around 50% corporation area including slums and gaothans. The water supply is 100% by gravity in the NMMC area. This has resulted in electricity cost savings of around Rs. 9 crore.

The corporation introduced metering systems whereby 100% commercial/institutional connections and 50% of residential connections are metered. Its other achievements include reduction in non-revenue water from 51% to 21%; reduction in maintenance costs of motor and pumps by 65%; and reduction in consumer complaints on water pressure by 80%.

The corporation introduced water quality monitoring system at every stage on a daily basis. This reduced non-potable water complaints to almost zero. Good quality and regular water is provided to the citizens. The billing system in the NMMC area is fully computerized, to enable full accounting and 100% bill recovery.

The NMMC intends to sell extra water from the Morbe dam to various organizations, which will bring additional revenue of Rs. 40 crore per year. It will earn around Rs. 6 crore per year from the sale of electricity generated from the 4 MW hydro-electric project being proposed on Morbe dam.
Rational tariff fixation and effective non-revenue water management made this initiative sustainable.

For further details, contact:

Mr. Vijay Nahata, IAS
Municipal Commissioner
Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation
Belapur Bhavan, 1st Floor
CBD, Belapur, Navi Mumbai
Thane – 400 614, Maharashtra