News: Bureau of Indian Standards(BIS) has prepared a draft standard for the supply system of piped drinking water.
Facts:
- Aim: To act as a benchmark for maintaining water quality and developing a uniform process for states opting to implement it.
- What does the draft contain? It lays down the requirements for water utilities, including procurement of raw water, its treatment, distribution, quality maintenance and responsibilities of the management.
Key Draft Rules:
- ISO 10500: The after treatment of the drinking water should conform to the Indian Standard(IS) 10500 developed by the BIS.
- IS 10500 outlines the acceptable limit of various substances in drinking water including heavy metals such as arsenic and other parameters like the pH value of water, its turbidity, the total dissolved solids in it, and the colour and odour.
- District Metering Area: The concept of district metering area (DMA) should be adopted where possible.
- DMA is a concept for controlling leakages in the water network which is essentially divided into a number of sectors called the DMAs and where flow meters are installed to detect leaks.
- Sampling of Water: Water should be sampled at the treatment plant every four hours against quality parameters.
- Water Audit: A water audit should be conducted on a quarterly basis.
- Water audit is a calculation of the amount of water put into distribution against the amount that is consumed.
Additional Facts:
- BIS: It came into existence in 1986 under BIS Act,1986 and was established as the National Standard Body of India under the BIS Act 2016 for the harmonious development of the activities of standardization, marking and quality certification of goods.
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.
