MUMBAI: The BMC has revived the prestigious ‘Jal Nirmalta’ award for supplying pure water to citizens. The BMC received the award given by the Indian Water Works Association (IWWA) for supplying water that is 99.34% pure.
The national award for 'Water Purity' is given annually by the IWWA. The award is given exclusively to local self-governing bodies for improving water quality through technology, efficient administration and high quality management in the field of water supply to the citizens.
The BMC was awarded the water purification award for the best pure water supply for the year 2019-20. Deputy Commissioner (Special Engineering) Ajay Rathore accepted this award at a special function in Hyderabad recently.
Officials said that water samples supplied to the citizens in 21 cities of the country were collected by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs under the Prime Minister's Water Life Mission Program and tested for 47 different standards of water as per IS 10500: 2012.
Water samples were collected from areas like Worli, Currey Road, Sewree, Malad, Kandivali and Jogeshwari. Water samples were also collected from slums in Powai, Sakinaka, Ghatkopar and Chembur in the eastern suburbs. All the samples were found to be suitable for 47 standards.
The BMC supplies 3850 million liters of water to the citizens every day. 358 locations in the service reservoirs and water distribution system have been identified by the water department for collecting water samples.
Officials said that at these locations, water samples are collected daily from 110 to 130 places by the Department of Health and Quality Control (Water Works) and the latest and accurate technology called 'Membrane Filter Technique' (MFT) is used in the laboratory under the jurisdiction of the Department of Health. The laboratory at Dadar has received the nomination of National Board of Laboratories (NABL) in December 2020.
Officials said that during the period 2013-14 to 2019-20, BMC has replaced the old dilapidated 250 km long water pipes of various diameters. They have also been repaired at some locations.