Audit of Water and Water issues

1
Audit of Water and Water issues

• Water is an essential thing for life.
• Without water life is impossible
• How much water is required per person per day?
• As per universal standards(Average)
• For drinking 5 litres
• sanitation 20 litres
• Bathing 15
• Food preparation 10

2
Geography of water

• Major Stocks of Water Volume
  of
  (1000km)
  
  water
• Salt water
• Oceans 1,338000
  96.54
• saline/backish Gr. Water 12,870
  0.93
• salt water lakes 85
  0.016

3
Fresh Water

• Glaciers, permt. Gr. Water 24,064
  68.7
• Fresh ground water 10,530
  30.6
• Ground ice, permafrost 300
  0.86
• Fresh water lakes 91 0.26
• Soil moisture 16.5 0.05
• Atmosph. Water vapor
  12.9 0.04
• Marshes wet lands 11.5 0.03
• Rivers 2.12 0.006
• Incorporated in biota
  1.12 0.003

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Some facts on fresh water

• Only 2.5 of the total water on earth is fresh
  water the usable portion is only 1
• About one third of the worlds population lives
  in countries where water stress persists
• About 80 countries 40 of the worlds population
  suffering from water shortages
• By 2025 two thirds of the world population may
  suffer from serious water problems
• Still, I.I billion people lack access to safe
  drinking water and 2.4 billion lack access to
  proper sanitation
• Agriculture accounts for more than 70 of the
  fresh water
• In return they give back 40 of the worlds food
  production

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Contd

• Fewer than 35 of the cities in the developing
  world treat their waste water
• Many countries lack adequate legislation and
  policies for efficient water management
• Water is widely shared among nations, religions,
  groups and communities
• A total of 261 rivers are shared by 2 or more
  countries and which makes the management of trans
  boundary water resources one of the most
  important water issues to day

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Water management problems

• There is sufficient water in the world.
• It is not managed well
• Water security was a subject to all the world
  countries during the World summit, 2002
• Water policy is required by all the nations
• SAIs can play a pro active role in auditing the
  policy.
• But SAIs shy away from this because they do not
  want to comment on the water policy.

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Water policy

• Salient features of water policy
• Water pricing
• Water legislation
• Permits
• Inspection and enforcement
• Investment in infrastructure
• Scientific research
• Providing information to public
• Monitoring and evaluation

8
Water-International issues

• No. of International Agreements
• Subject No.
• Water Resources and Conservation Management
  20
• Desertification 6
• Sea Water quality and Pollution 91
• Marine resources conservation and management
  32
• Fishing management and the use of harvestable
  fish 54

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Audit issues of water

• SAIs Audit Reports cover
• Water quality
• Rivers Lakes,
• Flooding,
• Drinking water Sanitation,
• Water in relation to nature biodiversity,
• Marine environment

10
Water Quality

• Related with financial issues as well as water
  issues.
• Absence of policy for clean water to the people
• Environmental programmes for implementation

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Types of Audit

• Many laws are existing for water pollution
• Laws are made to comply with International
  accords
• Audit of such compliance will be one method
• Performance appraisal of water management
  programmes
• Regularity audit and Performance audit can be the
  methods of audits.

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Absence of policy

• Absence of reliable and sufficient policy for
  water issues is another area of audit
• The type of audit would be compliance in nature
• The environmental degradation due to absence of
  proper policy will be highlighted

13
Rivers and lakes

• Rivers and lakes provide a wide variety of
  environmental problems
• Pollution of the rivers and the lakes poses risk
  to the lives of the fauna/flora in the lakes and
  the rivers
• It also gives risk to the area or the river banks
  due to contact of the polluted water.
• The plants and the agriculture on the rivers and
  river banks get affected by the polluted water
  that flows.

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Floodings

• This is another environmental issue of water.
• Flood protection system, flood prevention etc are
  matters of financial concerns
• Programme evaluation of the flood control and
  emergency plans etc. will be a subject matter for
  Performance type off audit.

15
Drinking water and sanitation

• This is the most common factor and most important
  one.
• Lot of world population is devoid of access to
  clean drinking water
• Masses from the rural areas lack facility for
  potable water for household purposes.
• The massive amount required to be spent to bring
  water to the population is some times criticized
  by the SAIs

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Sanitation

• Sanitation and environment are connected problems
• Un hygienic conditions in the environment create
  environmental problems
• Sanitation is also a matter which will require
  lot of funds for implementation.
• It is therefore, both performance audit as well
  as regularity Audit.

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Marine environment

• More than one country is involved
• Marine issues are therefore, complex in nature
  and resolved through International co-operation
• Marine issues affect the flora and fauna of the
  seas.
• It affects the countries where the sea stretches

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Marine water audits

• As the subject the audit is also complex.
• Therefore, more than 1 SAI is engaged in the
  audits of marine issues.
• Joint audits of water issues
• Audits relate to compliance, financial and
  Performance

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Audit of water- Indian perspective

• The audit of water issues in India is done as per
  the provisions of various Acts and rules passed
  by the Legislatures and the Parliament
• Legislative compliance is itself an audit.
• The Water(Prevention and Control of Pollution)
  Act, 1974 is the first Act to address the issues
  regarding water in India.

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Section 3 of the Act

• Under Sn. 3 of the Act, Central Government to
  constitute a Central Pollution Control
  Board(CPCB)
• Under Sn. 4 of the Act, State Pollution Control
  Board to be set up.
• Sn. 18 of the Act, Central Govt. to get the work
  of the State done through Central Board in the
  event of failure of State Boards

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Functions of the Central/State Boards

• Planning comprehensive programmes for
  prevention,control,abatement of pollution of
  streams and wells in the States
• Collection and dissemination of information
  relating to water pollution and prevention
• Inspection of sewage/trade effluents
• Laying down standards for treatment of sewage and
  trade effluents

22
Audit issues in water management

• SPCBs are required to issue consent letter to
  polluting industries for commencement and
  continuance of operations
• They are required to take effective action
  against the industries which do not install
  control mechanisms for prevention of pollution
• They are required to inspect the polluting
  industries regularly. Targets are fixed by the
  MOEF

23
Contd

• Drinking water supply to have certain parameters
  SPCBS are to check this.
• Proper sewage system in cities is an
  environmental issue. The boards to ensure this
• Untreated effluent not to mix with the water
  bodies.
• Domestic sewage from Municipal areas also not to
  mix

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Funds for implementation of programmes

• Environmental programmes are budgeted and the
  funds are drawn by the Boards for implementation
  of various programmes
• Amounts unspent becomes less implementation of
  environmental programmes.
• Audit to verify the budget and actual expenditure
  for any gap

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Monitoring

• Environmental activities have to be monitored by
  the Government for proper implementation.
• Such a monitoring is absent in many of the State
  Govts.
• Absence of MIS on Environmental issues will give
  thrust to the Audit coverage and conclusions.

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Some facts about the Environmental Auditing in
India.

• In the AR 2001 of the MOEF, audit reported that
• Only a meagre amount of Rs.3 crore was spent
  against a provision of Rs.12.75 cr.
• As of April 2000 Rs.145.95 cr.was lying unspent
  with SPCBs
• Absence of mechanism to ensure that Industrial
  units operate after getting consent letters from
  SPCBs
• SPCBs failed to take action against faulting
  industries which did not install ETPs

27
Contd

• Non achieving of targets of inspection
• Drinking water not meeting the requisite quality
• Inadequate sewerage facilities resulted in
  pollution of water and discharge of untreated
  water in the water bodies posing health hazards
• Dumping of Municipal waste resulted in polluting
  the area and air
• Major failures in complying with the Water Act,
  1974

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Water Audit Checks

• Audit of water issues to be conducted through
  PCBs
• PCBs are the regulating authorities.
• PCBs have to visit industries/factories to
  ascertain proper implementation of provisions of
  Water Act
• They have to issue consent to commence
  industries,
• They have to issue consent letter to continue

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Water quality

• Water quality of the various uses has to be
  regularised
• Water has to be wholesome
• Drinking water has to be clear, free from
  contamination
• Industrial water has also be of certain quality

30
Contd

• Depending up on the quality of water the uses
  have to be fixed
• Drinking water has to be of certain quality in
  terms of contamination and pH value
• Even the industrial water has to be of certain
  standard.
• If the water used in industries is not of the
  quality the plant and machinery may get
  affected.They may get corrosion

31
Contd..

• This applies to the water pipe line that brings
  water to the plant and the house holds.
• If the water is having high or low pH value it
  may become acidic or alkaline.
• The water piping system therefore, gets corroded
  and water will be lost in transit causing losses.

32
How the quality is assured

• PCBs test the water quality frequently to
  ascertain the quality
• In industries, the water is tested at definite
  intervals
• The water that is being discharged to the water
  system is also tested.
• Water quality is maintained by constructing ETPs

33
Contd..

• The PCBs check the quality of water that is
  discharged
• If the quality is not as per standard the water
  has to be treated before it is discharged into
  the water system so that no further epidemic
  like problems are not there.
• If chemicals are discharged before treating they
  affect the system and the land, flora/fuana of
  the river, lakes etc also get affected

34
Contd

• Water from the factories are tested at the end to
  see if it is fit to be discharged
• Otherwise, the water has to be treated before it
  is discharged.
• ETPS are used to purify the mixed water so that
  treated water is recycled for either industrial
  use or for gardening use etc.
• SOP concept also helps reduce the wastage

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Water recycle

• Water is drawn from water system for drinking
• Water is treated for drinking purposes
• Local bodies assures the quality
• The water is treated with disinfectants
• PCBs have to see whether the measurements of the
  chemicals used is as per standards fixed or not

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Audit of quality

• Audit has to verify whether the required quality
  is maintained or not
• pH value is maintained or not
• Wholesome water pH is 5.5
• Lesser than 5.5 acidic
• PCBs ascertain the pH value and grade
• Drinking water of acidic nature if allowed
  affects human health, corrosion of piping and the
  storage system

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OTHER AUDIT ISSUES

• To ascertain whether the country has any
  obligation under the International Accords.
• Whether the PCB has fixed the toxic level of
  ground water/River water/Lakes etc.
• Whether the country/State has adequate
  arrangement for the supply of Drinking water,
  Industrial water, etc.
• Whether water recycling is resorted to or not

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AUDIT ISSUES (Cont)

• What is marine degradation of water?
• How does it affect the mankind and marine life?
• How are the water issues solved by the country?
• What are the Legislative measures to address the
  water issues?
• What are the methods to finance water projects in
  the country?
• How are they collected? How are they spent?

39
AUDIT ISSUES (Cont)

• How is ground water protected/de-polluted?
• Water policy-whether existing in a particular
  state/Region or not?
• Whether the country has evolved a water policy
  for the country? If so, what are the key factors?
• What are the methods of water pricing?
• What are the pollution control rules in force in
  the country/region and local area level?

40
AUDIT ISSUES (Cont)

• What are the problems associated with river
  pollution?
• Whether the entity/country has any disaster
  recovery programme for drought/flood? If so, have
  they been documented, declared?
• Who are the key players in the water issues ?
  Are they been regulated?
• What are the problems associated with marine
  water?

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AUDIT ISSUES (Cont)

• How water is shared among various states, and
  what are the policies?
• What are the policies for irrigation?
• How water distribution is regulated at the
  programme level?

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AUDIT SPECIFIC ISSUES

• For the access of safe water and sanitation is
  necessary infrastructure in poison and
  efficiently working particularly in urban and
  rural areas?
• What are the machinery to ensure the efficient
  and equitable allocation of water resources?
• Do these machinery have a clear cut agenda and
  the time frame to implement the programmes?
• Have they been declared and documented

43
AUDIT SPECIFIC ISSUES(Cont)

• What are the machinery in position to ensure
  protection of water resources from depletion,
  pollution and degradation by promoting low cost,
  upgradable technologies for sanitary waste
  recycling and reuse of industrial and domestic
  waste water and solid waste protection of
  existing watersheds?

44
AUDIT SPECIFIC ISSUES(Cont)

• What are the agencies, their mechanisms and
  efficiency in the control of water associated
  diseases?
• What are the action plans for improving water
  supply for irrigation, livestock water supply,
  inland fisheries and agro forestry?
• Are these managed efficiently for conservation
  and scientific distribution and management?

45
AUDIT SPECIFIC ISSUES(Cont)

• Have the water preservation techniques been
  perfected and the population educated? What are
  the plans in this regard and are these
  efficiently implemented?
• Have the problems involved in water pollution
  been studied in depth, systems and polluting
  agents identified for addressing them in various
  manners?
• Whether action like legal remedy, imposition of
  fine or cancellation of licenses, criminal
  action, social education, roping of social
  organizations or NGOs etc. thought of and
  properly integrated in the policy paper?

46
AUDIT SPECIFIC ISSUES(Cont)

• Is there any provision for the research in
  control, measures in various matters concerning
  water pollution control, how are the research
  agencies selected, funds provided, programmes
  monitored, results utilized, and patents obtained
  where feasible.

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WATER AUDIT CHECKPOINTS

• Collect the various policy declarations of the
  Government as to its strategy to deal with water
  pollution, sustenance of water resources, water
  sharing, water pricing etc, to frame the audit
  approach.
• Get the detailed actions plans and programmes
  prepared and proposed for implementation.
• Conduct the usual regularity, financial propriety
  and Performance audit of these programmes.

48
WATER AUDIT CHECKPOINTS(Cont)

• Examine the various statues to identify the
  objectives, responsibilities and mandates of the
  Governments, CPCB, SPCBs, etc particularly the
  following acts and programmes
• River Boards Act, 1956
• Inter State Water Disputes Act, 1956
• Irrigation Commissions (1901, 1972)
• Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (1972
  73)
• Drought Prone Area Programme (1973)

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WATER AUDIT CHECKPOINTS(Cont)

• The water (Prevention and Control of Pollution
  Act) 1974
• Command Area Development Programme 1974 75
• The Water Cess Act, 1977
• Setting up of National Water Resources Council
  1983
• Centrally Sponsored Rural Sanitation Programme
  1986
• Environmental Protection Act 1986

50
WATER AUDIT CHECKPOINTS(Cont)

• 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution of
  India 1992, 1993
• National Lake Conservation Plan 1993
• Setting up of National River Conservation
  Directorate 1995
• Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme 1996
• National Water Policy 2002

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WATER AUDIT CHECKPOINTS(Cont)

• Go though the various Audit Reports of Union
  Government as well as the State Governments to
  see the reviews as well as the Draft paras
  dealing with Environment issues, the PAC reports
  and recommendations and use them as guidelines
  for audit particularly for reviews.
• Collect the various publications of the Ministry
  of Environment and Forests to gather data useful
  for audit approach and audit analysis.

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WATER AUDIT CHECKPOINTS(Cont)

• See the cases of funding of specific projects or
  programmes, the conditions, monitoring mechanisms
  evaluation, analysis of results etc.
• See the commitments made as per the international
  Accords and see the various reports, data and
  progress reports to evaluate the impact as well
  as adherence to the commitments.
• See the research programmes undertaken, funding
  arrangements, mile stones of research, results of
  research, publications, scope for patents on
  certain techniques developed, commercialization
  of viable research out come, etc.

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• Thanks