Lucknow: Plugged leaks can gift water to 1,000 homes

LUCKNOW: As many as 1,000 houses in the city can be provided with potable water for over a month without making additional arrangements if Jal Sansthan plugs all pipeline leaks.

The water department supplies 850 million litres daily (MLD) to 4.58 lakh households in the city through a 900km network of pipelines. While 450 MLD is supplied through waterworks, 400 MLD is distributed through tube wells.
However, at a time many parts of the city are grappling with water crisis, 5% or 42.5 MLD is lost because of pipe leaks, official records say.
The average daily water consumption of a house with a five-member family is 1,250 litres. Thus, daily consumption of 1,000 houses is 1.2 MLD. If leaks are plugged, these houses can receive water supply for 35 days, explain experts.
General manager of Jal Sansthan SK Verma said pipe damages were mostly caused by unauthorised digging. “We repair and replace old pipes with new ones on a regular basis. As a result, the rate of leaking water has come down to 5% from 8% in three years,” he said.