Performance Evaluation of Water Supply Projects through Water and Energy Auditing

Abstract

In view to the Energy and Water needs of Indian Municipalities, increasingly irregular monsoon rains, growing population, and rising energy tariffs, leave municipal officials with the ever greater challenge of meeting urban water demand in a cost effective manner. The effect of unreliable water supply impacts urban populations in multiple ways, resulting in detrimental health impacts, as well as significant social and economic costs. The delivery systems which are more efficient converts reduced pumping requirements into measurable energy savings.  Ultimately these reduced energy savings reduces the environmental impacts and also improve services to customer. By reducing rates of unaccounted-for water, as well as through other water efficiency and water conservation efforts, significant energy savings can also be realized.

While water provision is the immediate concern of water utilities, energy for water pumping and treatment is one of the main elements affecting a water utility’s total costs. In Indian scenario, municipality spends about 70%of its total energy expenditure over such basic service. The fact that a large number of Indians still lack sufficient access to water places increasing pressure upon decision makers to develop sustainable energy and water management strategies to bridge this gap.