Solar Energy Based Dual Pump Piped Water Supply Scheme to be implemented

The Government of India is focusing on provision of piped water supply in rural areas in the 12th Five Year Plan Period. It is seen that the drinking water supply infrastructure in tribal and inaccessible habitations are not functional due to non-availability of electricity and thus, extra efforts need to be made to improve piped water coverage in these areas.

The Government of India has implemented successfully an innovative scheme in IAP districts in 2013-14 in which a single phased 1 Hp Solar Energy based submersible pump Is installed in a high yielding bore-well which already has a hand pump. Water pumped from the system can be stored in an elevated tank and water is provided to each house through tap connections. Each of these schemes can meet the drinking water needs of about 250 persons. The main features of this system are that electric supply is not required, batteries are not required and household tap connections can be provided. Each scheme cost about Rs. 4.90 lakh (Rs. 1.8 lakh for the solar panels, pump and related infrastructure and Rs. 3.10 lakhs for average cost of the OHR and distribution network), excluding the bore well and water treatment cost. It has been found to be useful in tackling drinking water problems of remote non-electrified and small hamlets/habitations.

Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation had proposed to the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) for partial funding of a project to cover 20000 solar pumping systems in habitations (with population between 150 and 250) in the country during the Financial Year 2014-15 as per the Union Budget announcements. The remaining cost is to be borne from the NRDWP (Central + State share).

The scheme is based on an existing of new bore well/tube well. Traditional manual hand pumps installed on such bore wells cannot draw water from depths of more than 120 feet. Therefore they are of no use once the water level goes below this depth, which happens in many areas in the summer months. Secondly, drawing water in this way required manual efforts and the output is less.

In the new scheme, water is drawn from the bore well by two methods. In addition to the traditional hand pump method, an additional pump which can be run on solar or conventional electricity is installed by using a specially designed water chamber. The use of solar energy based water pumps is especially useful in areas with non-availability or erratic availability of electric power.

The scheme is based on prefabricated/readymade material and can be installed in a short time span of only 1-3 days. The scheme works even in cloudy/rainy weather with normal efficiency. A water tank/ESR of appropriate capacity is installed from which water can be further distributed to houses through individual connections or through stand posts. The scheme Is especially recommended for far flung habitations where one time low or zero maintenance solution is needed The scheme costs about Rs.5.10 lakh excluding.the cost of bore well.

To explain the technology /training and procedure to the Scheme implementing Engineers, Workshops are to be organized at District headquarters  with Demonstration of Dual pump installation and solar panel installation.

For further information, please refer to the attachment: