Bengaluru water board sets national BIS benchmark

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: In a first for the country, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board has received certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards for its piped drinking water supply management system. BWSSB is now the first water board in India to achieve this accreditation. Following a six-month evaluation, the BIS team commended Bengaluru’s water supply system for adhering to international standards.

BWSSB successfully met the rigorous criteria set by BIS, securing this prestigious certification for its efficient, safe, and sustainable water management practices. The licence is valid from March 6, 2024, to March 5, 2028. Audits are scheduled for Dec 2025 and Sep 2026, with a renewal audit planned for 2027. The BIS certification covers key aspects of water supply operations, including water intake from the source, treatment, storage and pumping, distribution through the pipeline network, ongoing maintenance and quality assurance, as well as consumer metering and billing.

The certification team assessed BWSSB’s procedures for collecting and testing water samples from various locations across the city, verifying compliance with national drinking water standards, evaluating operational procedures and quality control measures, and conducting a multi-stage review of documentation and testing protocols.