If everything goes as planned, waterpipe bursts will be a matter of
past in the state, as the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) is replacing the
existing pipes with new ones.

In an ambitious project, the KWA
plans to eliminate pipe bursting incidents in eight years. Priority will
be given to corporations and places with thicker population. Though the
project is at various levels of implementation, availability of funds
remains a major problem. In districts like Kannur and Malappuram, the
project is almost completed and in central and southern parts, though at
slow phase, the project is progressing.

T C Subran, KWA technical
member, said the authority is planning to replace all the existing old
pipes by 2021. “Thrust will be given to vulnerable pipes in the
corporation limits and areas with more number of consumers. Priority
will be given to pumping and transmission pipelines across the state.
For the project, Rs 100 crore was allotted in the state budget this
year. This will be suitably distributed among various areas in Kerala,”
he said.

Experts point out that pre-stressed concrete pipes and
asbestos cement pipes are the ones which burst frequently in the
state.“Maximum lifetime of these pipes is 15-20 years. But pipes in some
areas are about 40 years old. ‘‘This, coupled with the climatic
conditions, increases the chance of pipe bursts,” KWA officials said.
Subran said KWA plans to replace these pipes with mild steel pipe and
ductile iron pipes, with a lifetime of 50 years. K V Mohanan, KWA
assistant executive engineer, said high water pressure might have led to
pipe bursts in various parts of the state in recent times.

“Many
proposals to replace the pipelines in certain areas are yet to be
materialised. Fund availability is a major problem,” he said.According
to the available data with the the Kerala Water Authority , the state
has 14,65,448 water connections.