Declaration of an area as drinking water catchment area

(1) (a) The protected spring catchment area should ideally have a minimum size of 100 meters wide by 300 meters long area but this can vary according to local conditions. (b) For rural areas : For stream or river water intake, an area of 50 mtrs. wide on both banks of the stream or river should be fully protected upstream from the intake point. An additional strip of 50 to 100 meters wide can only be used for farming that does not involve bigger tree felling or soil tilling or the use of chemicals. The length of protected banks upstream of the water intake should generally be not less than 500 meter, depending on local conditions. However, greater the area better it would be for conservation of water sources. (c) For semi-urban areas : In mountainous terrains, the earmarked area of water shed for protection should generally be minimum of 100 mtrs. wide on each sides of the stream or river bank. The length should depend upon size of user and source or not less than 1000 mtrs. in length to get meaningful conservation. However, greater the area better it would be for conservation of water sources. (d) For urban areas : In mountainous terrains, the earmarked area of watershed for protection should cover from the ridge line or a minimum of 300 mtrs. wide on each side of the stream or river bank. The length should depend upon size of user and source or not less than 2000 mtrs. in length to get meaningful conservation. However, greater the area better it would be for conservation of water sources. Provided that, the State Government by subsequent notification shall declare to be a catchment area for a specific streams or rivers as may be deemed expedient. (2) A drinking water catchment area to be either critical, sub-critical or non-critical catchment area is to be decided by the district board. The criteria for declaring as critical, sub-critical or non-critical shall be governed by following yardsticks: - (a) From the lean period (dry months of say January - February) discharge of the sources of minimum 3 years, if the trend of reduction/ drying of sources indicates a situation wherein the availability of water is either already less than the drinking water requirement or is likely to become lesser in another 5 years, the source could be declared as critical. (b) From the lean period discharge of the sources of minimum 3 years, if it indicates a trend of reduction or drying of sources wherein the availability of water is likely to become lesser than the water requirement in another 5-30 years, the source could be declared as sub-critical. (c) From the lean period discharge of the sources of minimum 3 years, if it indicates a trend of reduction or drying of sources wherein the availability of water is likely to become lesser than the water requirement after 30 years, the source could be declared as non-critical. (3) However, the declaration of an area as drinking water catchment area has to be made by the administrative heads of the jurisdiction of the catchment area. It could be either the DC/ADC/SDO/EAC/CO.