24X7 water supply: PMC mulls using cameras to check pipeline quality

Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is checking feasibility of inspecting quality of pipelines for 24x7 water supply project by inserting a camera inside the pipelines. It plans to check the quality of pipes and replace only the damaged ones.
 
Speaking to Sakal Times, Nandkumar Jagtap, Superintendent Engineer of PMC Water Supply Department said, “The PMC has allotted Rs 10 crore for testing pipelines before starting work on this project. On Monday, a private company demonstrated to PMC officials how to check the quality of pipelines by inserting a camera inside the pipe. However, technology is costly compared to traditional method of cutting a piece of the pipe and testing it in the laboratory.” 

Jagtap added, “The company has quoted Rs 1 crore for testing one km of pipeline. However, the result of this technology is accurate. We can view the corrosion of the pipe, leakage, bend etc.” 

About the Project

• The project cost is Rs 2,550 crore. 
• Deadline is 3 years from date of starting work. 
• 1,600 km of pipelines will be replaced. 
• 50 per cent pipelines are of 150 mm diameter. 
• In the first year, the pilot project will be implemented in Katraj, Sahakar Nagar, Yerawada, Taljai and Viman Nagar. 
• Work includes installation of meters, making infrastructure for the project and maintaining it for 10 years. 
• The PMC has divided the city into 328 District Metering Areas (DMA) to check water supply and distribution.