Drinking water: some issues and possible solutions

This summer has again focussed on some new issues relating to drinking water supply in Bangalore and a few possible solutions.

The first and foremost issue: who is primarily responsible for the supply of water to the city. Is it the BBMP or the Bangalore Water
Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB)?

The other has been the ignitioning of a debate regarding handing over of water supply to private enterprises, at least in the new areas
added to the Corporation. Other issues included potability of water supplied and contamination.

Bangalore's water problem is not new. It has been there for the last two decades or so when the population of the city grew to the
present level of more than a crore, both permanent and floating. In fact, Bangalore witnessed the largest growth rate in population
among Indian cities during the period.

The shortage of water in the core city area is stated to be 128 MLD at present, which is likely to go up to 155MLD and 328 MLD by 2015
and 2021 respectively as per a technical paper circulated recently.

The BWSSB is reported to have finalised a project to match the supply and demand position and to reduce the wastage of water and
Unaccounted For Water (UFW) from the present 37 per cent to 16 per cent.

It is also reported to be considering a proposal to involve private entrepreneurship in the water supply management system, at least in
new areas. It is not known how long it will take for these proposals to materialise. It may be worth comparing how cities like Singapore
have found solutions to this vexed problem.

The Singapore model

The State of Singapore with 700 sq km area has no natural waterways or rivers. It has a 7000 km drainage network, 15 reservoirs
specially built to store rainwater and four plants to recycle sewerage. Desalinisation of sea water is the other successful project through
private participation.

Of course, the Singapore Government has invested substantial amounts in R&D, on continuous basis. Another high point is the new
generation membrane technology developed for recovering used water. The Singapore water solution is rated as the best globally.

Global indicators

Some global indicators which can guide Bangalore's plans:

1. Urban population increased fourfold worldwide over during the 20th century and this may continue for the next 50 years or so.

2. Amount of fresh water used increased nine times during the period.

3. Over one billion people across the world lack access to clean water.

4. 80 per cent of all diseases are borne out of contaminated water.

5. By 2030, the number of people living under severe water stress is projected at 3.9 billion as per the Organisation of Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD).

6. By 2050, nine billion people will be sharing the planet's water resources.

7. Agriculture takes around 70 per cent of available fresh water.

8. Estimated cost of water managementglobally per year will be of the order of $319 billion and for rich countries alone this will be $200
billion.

9. Governments alone will not be able to manage the massive financial requirements

10. At present, private sector takes care of only around five per cent of the drinking water needs of the world.

11. A Singapore report says that between 2016 and 2025, Asian countries will hand over more than 50 per cent of water management to
private hands.

Possible plans
The Planning Commission of India is reported to be toying with the idea of active private participation in water supply management, as
stated by the Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia recently. It is perhaps the right time to have a long term plan for Bangalore, say,
till 2025 or so with the participation of United Nations bodies, Central Government, private parties and State Government. Public
awareness regarding the need to save water also needs to be created.

Bamboo is the answer

With the quake and tsunami creating havoc in Japan, the need for quake-resistant buildings and designs has come to the forefront

Alternative: An earthquake and fire resistant bamboo house, which can withstand temperatures up to minus 40 degree
Celsius, in Leh recently. Such houses were constructed by National Mission of Bamboo Application for the survivors of the
cloudburst in Leh.

The BBC News Business reports on March 23, 2011 said “Japan has said it will cost as much as 25 trillion yen ($309bn; £189bn) to
rebuild the country after the deadly earthquake and tsunami.” The cost is about six per cent of Japan's total economic output in 2010 and
is the biggest estimate so far. According to the World Bank, Japan will need up to five years to rebuild and recover from the damage
caused. The devastation has been described as the country's biggest crisis since the end of World War II. The casualties of the
earthquake and tsunami is now numbered at 9,079, with 12,645 missing.”

The earthquake in India (Bhuj, Gujarat, magnitude 7.6), on January 26, 2001, caused widespread damage to life and property, both of
which if not avoided could have been minimised. The count of toll rose above 25,000. Over 370,000 houses were completely destroyed
and over 922,000 partially destroyed, total damages exceeded $ 5 billion. Around 50 per cent of this was household property damage.

Right material

Earthquake-resistant building design and construction is becoming more important and a necessity. One of the most important aspects is
to select the right material which behaves favourably during earthquakes. Building materials are commonly selected based on functional,
technical and financial requirements. However, with earthquakes and sustainability as key issues in the recent years, selection of building
materials has become more important.

In all the earthquakes major damages are seen in the non-engineered masonry buildings. Therefore it is important to build engineered
masonry buildings to avoid major losses .

Bamboo is a versatile, environment-friendly and sustainable material which can be used in building for various applications. Bamboo is a
collective name for different species of giant grasses. It is estimated that 60-90 generae of bamboo exist, comprising approximately
1100-1500 species. These species come in various sizes and forms. Bamboo has a very efficient natural structural design because of the
hollowness and the fibres in longitudinal direction.

Favourable properties

The efficiency of the natural design of bamboo is also due to the favourable mechanical properties, high flexibility, fast growing rate, low
weight and low purchasing costs. The important properties for any building material are its tensile strength, compressive strength, shear
strength, shrinkage, elasticity, fire resistance etc. and durability. Bamboo is an extremely strong fibre, with twice the compressive
strength of concrete and roughly the same strength-to-weight ratio of steel in tension. The strongest bamboo fibres have a greater shear
resistance than structural wood.

The life time of un-treated and non-preserved bamboo will be about two-and-a-half years, and that of treated and preserved bamboo,
about 10 years. However, when it is used as reinforcement for masonry buildings with proper protection, it is more durable.

In housing

The Building Materials & Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC) of the Union Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation, has taken
many initiatives for using bamboo in construction. BMTPC is actively involved in developing bamboo-based technologies and to promote
these technologies in the North-Eastern region and other bamboo-growing areas, by setting up bamboo mat production centres ,
encouraging commercial production of bamboo-based products, construction of demonstration houses etc.

The Council also trains local artisans in processing of bamboo. In India, although several products have been developed, bamboo mat
board (BMB), bamboo mat veneer composites (BMVC) and bamboo mat corrugated sheets (BMCS) developed at IPIRTI have already
gained user acceptance as an alternative to wood, plywood and corrugated ACC and GI sheets. In collaboration with TRADA Technology
of U.K. and funding by DFID, IPIRTI has developed a building system using round and split bamboo, BMB for walling, door and window
shutters and BMCS roofing.

The system is based on 1.2 m module with bamboo posts and bamboo sliver reinforced cement mortar wall panels of 5 cm thick only.

The experience in the development of housing systems has shown that they are cost effective, attractive and are expected to withstand
normal weather and wind conditions. Being light it can be suitably utilised by adopting appropriate design for quake-prone regions.

The system developed and study of prototypes already constructed have shown high potential for wider propagation, particularly in the
North-Eastern and other bamboo growing regions where traditional building practices already exist but need to be improved for longevity
of buildings.

Lighting cool

Fluorescent lighting, taken for granted so long, has got a stunning new makeover with the System X modules. Nirthya Rajan reports

Grid lock The X-modules offer an infinite choice of patterns.

Fluorescent lighting has been around for so long that nobody really gives it a second thought. Yes, it's a pretty drab system of lighting
that really doesn't add anything by way of aesthetics to home or office. However, the question is: is there an alternative?

The straight answer now, is yes — System X, an innovative lighting system born out of the collaboration between Yamagiwa, the
Japanese lighting company and world-renowned British designer Ross Lovegrove.

The concept entails an effective use of space while creating a comfortable ambience, providing soft yet dynamic lighting. This X-shaped
lighting system with its elegant curvature has had a sensational impact around the world, following its debut in Milan and London in
2005.

The System X module

System X is a modular suspended lighting system made up of flexible fluorescent X-shaped lights that can be connected to other X
modules to create an elegant lighting architecture for any interior space. The possibilities are endless: you can link as many X modules as
you want, both horizontally and vertically to cover walls, ceilings, and even form circles of varying sizes.

In essence, System X uses a set of “X” shaped light modules that can be joined, then hung from a ceiling to provide both illumination and
decoration. The resulting system is not only attractive but is also bright and energy-efficient. Soft and even light is spread from these X-
shaped modules in a full 360 degree radius.
Grid matrix

The use of System X lights is based on interconnections between the modules to form a grid matrix of any shape or size. This versatile
piece can also be formed into a circular pattern, using either five or eight units. It is designed to use minimum suspension wire and
power supply cable. And the great thing is that they can be dimmed via a central control unit to produce differing zones of lighting
according to requirements.

System X modules can be easily joined with several types of connectors, and can be matched freely to any scale or pattern, due to its
unique X module form. The hanging lighting system is barely noticeable due to the pad-system wire-hanging flange and the electrical
cord-hanging flange. Electrical current flows in through the joints giving the impression of being a free-floating, shining net in space.

The modules are made of polycarbonate with an extruded aluminium inner frame, with each module containing two T4 curved fluorescent
bulbs, of 21 watts each (included with each module); the bulb life is about 8,000-12,000 hours.

Each module measures: 20.25" x 36.75", height: 2.5", and weighs 4.4 lbs (2 kg) and can be suspended from a central point or from the
ends (end suspension method is for systems composed of modules in a single line). Just one electrical feed can power two rows of
modules of any length.

Seamless lighting

The overall effect suggests seamlessness between the lighting itself and the light it radiates. System X is both elegant in form and
practical in design, a brilliant combination of form and function.

The product can be used for both home and office lighting: from small dimmable configurations for your dining room or conference room
to large open expanses that can create zones of different temperatures of light in collective or singular modules. It can be employed in
lobby areas, corridors, offices, factory spaces where lighting is a problem, movie theatres, reading rooms and more.

This system is now available in India; in Chennai, through Light Art