Jamshedpur: The steel city is using sensors and a special communication network to obtain real-time data on drinking water at customer points.

The smart initiative, aimed at quality control and speedy redress, is the first of its kind in Jharkhand and arguably also in the country.

Spokesperson Rajesh Rajan for Tata Steel's utility wing Jusco said Jamshedpur was the only city in the state where people could drink water directly from the tap without any purification procedure.

"Sensor-fitted devices are being dipped into water at different points and real-time signal generated on quality. This signal is received at the integrated command and control centre (Northern Town, Bistupur), which in turn sends texts about changes needed in supply parameters. The project has begun on a pilot basis at our water towers, water treatment plant and a few locations. We will cover all areas in the next few months," Rajan said.

So long, Jusco collected water samples at frequent intervals from over 300 major supply points for lab tests at the water treatment plant in Sakchi. Quality parameters were checked as per standards set by the NABL under the central department of science and technology. The entire process took more than a day before corrective measures could be undertaken.

Jusco supplies water in the city through an intricate network of pipelines that run for over 600km. It caters to a population of more than 7 lakh in company command areas and several thousands in non-company areas from its seven water towers in Burmamines, Sidhgora, Sakchi, Northern Town (central tower), Kadma, Sonari and Tatanagar.

The water supplied has a total dissolved solids (measure of combined content of inorganic and organic substances) count of less than 150ppm while the world standard is 500ppm.

The turbidity (haziness of fluid caused by suspended solids) is about 1ntu (nephelometric turbidity unit). The other primary parameters for checking water quality include free chlorine (0.2ppm), iron (0.3ppm), aluminium (0.03ppm) and fluoride (1.0 ppm).

Raw water passes through the process of clarification, filtration and disinfection before being pumped into water towers for distribution in localities.

In early 2017, Jusco had started using the LoRaWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network) technology. It is a new data network to allow things to connect to the Internet without using 3G or Wi-FI and is ideal for battery-operated sensors and low power applications.

The system is facilitating the current use of sensors so that real-time information can be sent to the integrated command centre. It is being used in streetlights, parking, vital installations, electric supply, waste and sewage management.