Water resource management to improve urban water supply : case of Aurangabad city

Abstract

Water is crucial and fundamental for life. It is essential element for industrial, domestic, agricultural and economic needs of the country. In India, water services are very poor in terms of coverage per households, Non-revenue water, continuity of water supply, and system efficiency in collection and recovery of water related charges and metering system. Due to high percentage of nonRevenue water (approx. 34%) water demand could not fulfilled. At the same time water requirement is continuously increasing with increase in population, industrial and economic activities in urban India. Exploitation of water resources is increasing day by day. It is essential to manage the resources of water in order to fulfil the requirement for future use. The main water resource in Aurangabad (Jayakwadi dam) is not suitable increasing extraction of water for the future use to supply water in AMC. Study is focused on detailed assessment of water resources which are currently providing water to the city with consideration to hydrological aspects such as rainfall, temperature, humidity. Study of system of water supply of AMC is done with respect to the Service level benchmarking given by Ministry of Urban Development, GoI. After the study of water resources and performance of water supply in AMC potential sources of water are identified according to the groundwater and surface water indicators such as stream flow/seasonal variation, quality and stages of groundwater development with the help of GIS. Watersheds are delineated in order to get runoff generated in study area by using GIS. Relation between water requirement and resources are built to fulfil future need of the city. Finally proposals are given to improve urban water supply by strengthening and building capacity of water resources. Scenarios have been generated at city level and household level to improve supply and demand side of the system. Strategies for water conservation and rehabilitation of traditional water supply system are suggested with appropriate techniques.