Can sound waves help Mumbai save water amid drought? BMC turns to new tech to fix pipeline leaks

Mumbai's water woes take center stage as the city faces a 10 per cent water cut due to deficient rainfall. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to utilize SONAR technology to locate underground leaks and expedite the replacement of aging pipelines in an effort to curb water loss. Currently, approximately 34 per cent of the supplied water, amounting to 1,394 million litres per day, is lost to leaks and theft.

The pipeline network, stretching nearly 6,000 km, is largely old and much of it requires replacement. The BMC aims to replace 250-300 km of pipelines annually, up from the current 60-70 km. SONAR technology, which employs sound waves to detect objects and changes beneath the surface, is expected to help identify leakages more accurately, reducing the need for extensive digging and exploratory work.

The additional municipal commissioner, Abhijit Bangar, revealed that replacing just 1 per cent of the existing pipeline network is the current pace, and the target is to raise this to 5-6 per cent annually, ultimately scaling up to 25-30 per cent within the next four years. Additionally, the BMC is set to expand its Water for All policy, which provides water connections to slum settlements, aiming to integrate more households into the formal supply network and reduce water theft.

So far, the policy has received 35,697 applications and granted 29,110 water connections. The BMC plans to implement these measures around mid-2027 after a feasibility assessment by a consultant is completed within six months.