Source : The Hindu Date : 10.06.2009

Metrowater takes initiative to ensure equitable water distribution

K.Lakshmi

—Photo: M.Vedhan

Improvement measures: Construction of additional underground sumps such as this one in Kilpauk Water Works is part of Chennai Metrowater’s initiative to improve supply.

CHENNAI: Chennai Metrowater is in the process of installing sluice valves in the water distribution network as a measure to improve the supply to tail-end areas.

Under the project taken up to address the complaints of residents of such localities about inadequate water supply, the sluice valves would ensure in equitable supply.

A Metrowater official said that when the water meant for distribution to a particular area was pumped into the pipeline, the localities en route also received the supply. Once the boundaries of each area were marked by providing nearly 1,000 valves in the distribution mains, all households in the area for which it was meant would receive sufficient supply.

Work order for the project has been issued recently for isolation of the 16 water supply zones of Chennai Metrowater. It would be executed as part of the improvement works to the water distribution system under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. The project would be completed by September next year, the official said.

The improvement works being taken up in the four major water distribution stations — Kilpauk, Anna Poonga in Royapuram, Southern Head Works (Valluvar Kottam) and K. K. Nagar — would facilitate the distribution of water with adequate water pressure to 532 streets connected to the network. In addition to these, all pumping stations would also be taken up for upgradation under the project.

Additional storage facility

Almost 70 per cent of the work to provide additional storage facility in Kilpauk water works has been finished so far. It would be completed by October this year. With the construction of new underground sumps, the storage capacity would be increased to 91 million litres (ML) from the existing 47 ML. This would benefit the surrounding areas such as Aminjikarai, Ayanavaram, Villivakkam and Anna Nagar.

Similarly, work is on in full swing in the K. K. Nagar zone and Anna Poonga and the projects would be completed by October this year and April 2010 respectively.

“With the pipeline network inside the pumping station at the Southern Headworks, Valluvar Kottam, replaced recently, we are able to save nearly Rs.1.5 lakh on electricity bills every month. This has been made possible mainly on account of the increase in the capacity of the new facilities,” the official said.

For residents, a significant increase in the water pressure in these four zones, however, would happen only on completion of the strengthening of the pipeline network.

A new pipeline has been laid over 37 out of the 169-km route in the Kilpauk zone. About 20-km-long new pipeline has been laid in the entire 61 km network in the K. K. Nagar zone. The remaining work would be completed by the year-end, the official added.