T’puram: Even as the ongoing LPG cylinder shortage continues to disrupt daily life in the city, Technopark is facing a parallel crisis with an acute shortage of water, raising concerns over sustainability as operations expand rapidly.The situation has worsened in recent weeks with a sharp rise in water consumption following the return of employees to offices. Several companies earlier allowed work-from-home arrangements due to the LPG shortage affecting households, but have now resumed full-scale office operations, significantly increasing daily water demand across Technopark’s Phase I and Phase III campuses. Officials estimate that the park requires nearly 10 to 15 lakh litres of water per day to function smoothly. However, KWA is currently supplying only around one lakh litres daily, leaving a substantial deficit. To manage the shortfall, Technopark authorities have been heavily dependent on private water tankers. Despite these efforts, the supply remains insufficient as the number of companies and employees continues to grow steadily. “We are managing the situation through tanker supply and controlled distribution, but the demand is rising. It is becoming challenging, especially during the summer months,” a senior Technopark official said. The reason for this crisis is the long-pending maintenance of the damaged pipeline from Aruvikkara to Manvila. The pipeline was laid earlier for the water supply that is interconnected to Technopark Phases II and III. Though KWA issued a tender to repair and maintain the pipeline, the contractor left midway.Interestingly, employees have not reported major disruptions so far, as companies have introduced internal measures such as regulated water usage and awareness initiatives. In response, authorities are exploring both immediate and long-term measures. In the short term, efforts are under way to increase tanker supply and optimize water usage across facilities. On the long-term front, a major relief is expected from the upcoming water treatment and recycling plant, which is nearing completion within the campus. “The proposed water treatment plant is in its final stages and once commissioned, it will significantly reduce our dependence on external sources by enabling large-scale recycling and reuse of water,” the official added.
