T’puram: In a bid to tackle recurring water shortages in the capital, Kerala Water Authority (KWA) will augment two existing water treatment plants at Aruvikkara by 10 MLD each, adding 20 MLD to the city’s treatment capacity.The 72 MLD plant will be augmented to 82 MLD, while the 74 MLD plant will be increased to 84 MLD, taking their combined capacity from 146 MLD to 166 MLD. The project has received administrative sanction for Rs 37 crore in the first phase, with Rs 20 crore sanctioned through Asian Development Bank and Rs 17 crore under Amrut.The augmentation of the 72 MLD plant will be implemented jointly under ADB and Amrut, while the 74 MLD plant will be taken up under Amrut. Work on the 74 MLD plant has already been tendered.The additional capacity is expected to improve water supply in several elevated areas, including Statue, Palayam, Vazhuthacaud and Kowdiar, which face shortages particularly during summer.A senior KWA official said the elevation of these areas makes them vulnerable to supply disruptions when pressure in the distribution network drops.“Statue, Palayam, Vazhuthacaud and Kowdiar are located in elevated areas. During summer, these areas tend to face water shortages as the pressure in the network falls. Residents are often forced to depend on water tankers to meet their requirements. The increase in treatment capacity will help improve water availability in these areas and reduce their dependence on tanker supply,” the official said.The augmentation of the 74 MLD plant is expected to improve supply in Peroorkada, Manvila and Kazhakkoottam. The capacity enhancement is also being accompanied by pipeline works in Peroorkada, where KWA is replacing old pipelines to strengthen the distribution network.“New pipelines are being laid from Peroorkada to Manvila, replacing the old concrete pipelines. Once the pipeline works are completed, additional water can be distributed more effectively to these areas. The combination of new pipelines and increased treatment capacity will help address the shortage in water supply,” the official said.KWA officials said the city’s daily water requirement has exceeded 400 MLD. However, a significant quantity of water is lost before reaching consumers because of leakages in ageing transmission and distribution pipelines.The capacity augmentation is expected to increase the availability of treated water, while the pipeline replacement works will strengthen the distribution network and improve the delivery of water to consumers.Officials said elevated areas are particularly vulnerable when pressure in the distribution system drops. The additional treatment capacity, coupled with improvements to the distribution network, is expected to help KWA manage supply more effectively, particularly during summer when demand and shortages increase.
