T’puram: Kerala Water Authority (KWA) is set to replace an ageing pump at its 21.90 MLD water treatment plant at Vellayani to improve water supply to the southern parts of the capital, where demand is rising with increased tourism and economic activity.KWA has called a tender for the project, which involves installing a new 120HP vertical turbine pump at the raw-water pump house of the Vellayani plant. The existing pump has become old and outdated, making it difficult for the plant to achieve its full potential, according to a KWA official.“The plant has a designed capacity of 21.90 MLD, but the existing pumping system makes it difficult to consistently achieve that capacity. Replacing the pump will improve the efficiency of raw-water pumping and help the treatment plant achieve its full potential,” the official said.The Vellayani plant supplies water to Kovalam, Vizhinjam, Kalliyoor and Venganoor. The replacement assumes significance as the Kovalam-Vizhinjam belt is witnessing increased tourist inflow and economic activity, leading to greater demand for water.The project is expected to particularly benefit the region during summer, when demand for water rises and parts of the southern belt face supply pressure. By helping the existing treatment plant operate at its full capacity, KWA expects to improve the reliability of water supply to households and other consumers in the four areas.“The new pump will help us make full use of the capacity that is already available. This will improve the quantity and reliability of water supplied to the areas,” the official said.The new pump will draw raw water from Vellayani Lake and pump it to the treatment plant for purification. The project is therefore intended to improve the efficiency of the existing water-supply system rather than create a new treatment facility. The technical specifications provide a 120HP vertical turbine pump with a discharge capacity of 280 litres per second and a total head of 23m. The work includes installation of the pump, motor, electrical systems, valves, and other equipment required for operation.
