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Suez Environnement, a French multinational firm, today said it has won two contracts worth 20 million euros from state-bodies of Karnataka and Maharashtra for works related to water distribution system and control its leakages.
"Suez Environnement has been awarded two contracts worth 20 million euros by the Bangalore Water and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) to improve water distribution system, reduce unaccounted for Water (UFW) and control leaks," the company said in a statement.
The Bangalore project will cover a total area of 26.5 square km, with more than 400 000 consumers. For this, Suez has entered into a joint venture with SPML Infra, a leading infrastructure developer.
The 8-years project will be implemented in two phases the first three years has been assigned for network survey, rehabilitation and development work and the next five years will be maintenance, leakage control and sustaining UFW level, the company said.
It added that the project aims to reduce UFW from the current level of 42 per cent to 16 per cent in 5-8 years.
Unaccounted-for Water (UFW) is the difference between the quantity of water supplied to a city's network and the metered quantity of water used by the customers. It has two components -- physical losses due to leakage from pipes and administrative losses due to illegal connections and under registration of water meters.
In Pimpri-Chinchwad, Maharashtra, the company will detect and repair leakages in the distribution system using Helium Gas Technology, an innovative technology developed and patented by it. This technique is most appropriate for India as it works effectively in networks with intermittent supply, the company said.
"Our approach is to link up with local partners who are familiar with the area... We are delighted to support BWSSB and PCMC as part of their initiative to improve the water distribution system in these cities, which will enable better use of the available water resources and improvements to the system's performance," company's in-charge of international activities and Deputy CEO Marie Ange Debon said.
Suez Environnement is present in India for over three decades through its subsidiary Degremont India. Degremont has designed, built and is operating over 160 water treatment plants across the country that supply 5 billion liters of potable water everyday, the company said.
In 2011, it had entered into the water services and has subsequently won contracts in Pimpri Chinchwad and New Delhi. In New Delhi, the company has been working to improve water distribution and customer services for Delhi Jal Board in Malviya Nagar UGR Command area.
