IIT-Indore Pioneers Tiered Water Audit to Combat Rising Bills and Scarcity
Imagine a future where escalating water bills become a relic of the past, and your taps deliver a consistent flow even during the most intense summer months. This vision is at the heart of a groundbreaking 'tiered' water audit framework engineered by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology-Indore.
Tackling the Invisible Drain: Non-Revenue Water Loss
The research meticulously targets 'non-revenue water'—the substantial volumes lost through subterranean leaks or unauthorized connections. By identifying and mitigating these losses, the system ensures citizens are billed solely for the water that actually reaches their households, not for what vanishes into the ground.
This innovative approach promises dual benefits: shielding consumers from frequent water tax hikes and guaranteeing a more dependable, predictable water supply, as affirmed by the institute's researchers.
From Academic Theory to Tangible Public Solutions
Moving beyond theoretical exploration, IIT-Indore is actively translating its research into practical applications for public welfare. The scope extends from advanced water auditing to precise pollution measurement systems.
Under a strategic collaboration with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the premier institute has secured approval for six critical research projects. These initiatives are designed to address pressing ground-level challenges in sustainability and civic infrastructure.
Institute officials reported that faculty submitted 33 research proposals under the BIS framework, with six receiving sanction. The selected projects concentrate on high-impact domains, including:
- Developing standardized protocols to measure and conserve water usage in industrial and township settings.
- Creating accurate, standard-compliant systems for monitoring environmental quality.
- Fostering innovation in waste management and public hygiene infrastructure.
- Conducting material testing to ensure construction and manufacturing materials meet rigorous safety and durability benchmarks.
Workshop Highlights Path to Market-Ready Solutions
The projects were prominently featured during a one-day workshop titled 'BIS–Academia Collaboration for Sustainable Development,' recently convened on campus. The event attracted over 200 delegates and demonstrated how the institute leverages standardization frameworks to cultivate market-ready solutions.
During his inaugural address, IIT-Indore Director Professor Suhas Joshi emphasized, "Standardization is a critical enabler for quality, innovation, and sustainability. Strong collaboration among academia, industry, startups, and BIS is essential to translate research outcomes into scalable, market-ready, and socially relevant solutions."
Bridging Innovation with Industry Standards
To ensure these innovations seamlessly transition to industry, IIT-Indore has established seven 'BIS Student Chapters' across disciplines such as civil, mechanical, and chemical engineering. These chapters are structured to train students in adhering to Indian standards from the prototype phase itself, ensuring that startups and innovations originating from the campus are inherently industry-compliant.
Professor Manish Kumar Goyal, faculty at IIT Indore and Chair Professor for BIS Standardization, noted, "The newly established 'BIS Corner' on campus will serve as a knowledge hub, assisting students and startups in aligning their research with national quality standards."
This comprehensive initiative underscores IIT-Indore's commitment to not only advancing academic research but also driving real-world impact through strategic partnerships and standardized, sustainable solutions for India's infrastructure challenges.
