World

Microorganisms occur in piped distributions from source water, through contamination during distributions and because of growth. Different organisms may cause a range of adverse health effects. Effective management varies with the organisms and their origin.

SWITCH is an action research programme, implemented and co-funded by the European Union and a cross-disciplinary team of 33 partners from 15 countries around the world. Increasing global change pressures, escalating costs and other risks inherent to conventional urban water management are causing cities to face ever increasing difficulties in efficiently managing scarcer and less reliable water resources. As well, satisfying water uses/services and waste water disposal without creating environmental, social or economic damage is an increasingly difficult challenge.

The report aims to provide greater understanding and awareness on expanding the delivery of water services, conservation of water, increased efficiencies, facilitation of the exchange of water sector information and experience, and improving governance. It is particularly focused on ADB’s overarching goal of poverty reduction. 

This series, published by the GWP Secretariat in Stockholm has been created to disseminate the papers written and commissioned by the TEC to address the conceptual agenda. Issues and sub-issues with them, such as the understanding and definition of IWRM, water for food security, public-private partnerships, and water as an economic good have been addressed in these papers.

The presentation by M N Thippeswamy (Retd. Chief Engineer of BWSSB) deals with the operation and maintanance of water supply systems. The structure of the presentation is as follows -

• Key issues regarding water supply scenario around the World
• Definition of Operation and Maintenance
• Key issues before the water authorities for water supply O & M
• Objectives of Operational System and Management
• O & M of Water Resources for quality and quantity
• O & M of Conveyance system of water resources
• O & M of Water Treatment Plant
• O & M of service reservoirs and distribution pipeline
• O & M of drinking water quality maintaining and surveillance
• O  & M of billing and collection
• O  & M of Energy Audit
• Water Audit and Leakage Control
• System Management
• Public Private Partnership (PPP / PSP)

Best practices on urban water management from across the world

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This deals with the Thames Water Ring Main Extensions and its plan to increase the area served by its London Ring Main by constructing two extensions in a £90m project.  The tunnelling will take place in north-east and south-east London and will help Thames Water to meet the capital's growing demand for water. The Ring Main was built to improve the speed and efficiency of transferring supplies of drinking water across the capital. 

This deals with the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS) which has been developed as an efficient and cost-efficient solution to meet Singapore’s long-term needs for used water collection, treatment, reclamation and disposal. Conceptualised and managed by PUB, it was conceived as a cost-effective and sustainable solution to meet Singapore’s long-term used water needs.

These presentations deal with a case study of the work done in Chicago City in the United States of America to improve flood management and water quality. In order to save construction costs, the reservoir side walls are composed of geomembrane liner over compacted clay.

Image & Content Courtesy: NASA Earth Observatory

A ragged-looking Tropical Storm Bijli draped the east coast of India in this image from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Terra satellite on April 16, 2009. Bijli became a tropical storm in the northwest Bay of Bengal on April 15, and initially headed north, toward the west coast of India. By April 16, it had begun a northeastward turn, however, and the storm was being projected to make landfall in eastern Bangladesh on April 17, according to Unisys. Access higher resolution image here:Cyclone Bijli