Kochi: Plans for the new 190 million-litre-per-day water treatment plant at Aluva are progressing alongside preparations to strengthen the water distribution and storage infrastructure serving Kochi and its surrounding urban areas.
The treatment plant forms part of a wider programme to improve the reliability and capacity of the region’s water supply system. Kerala Water Authority project records identify the construction of a new 190 MLD facility and the improvement of Kochi’s distribution network as key components of the proposed water-supply improvement programme.
Additional pipelines, service reservoirs and storage tanks will be required to carry the increased volume of treated water from the plant to the intended service areas. These supporting components were not included within the original treatment-plant package, reportedly because of funding limitations.
Water-demand assessments are expected to be consolidated into a separate infrastructure proposal covering the required distribution lines and storage capacity. The supporting works are expected to be planned in coordination with the treatment plant’s construction schedule, which has been estimated at approximately three years.
Kalamassery currently receives approximately 21 MLD of water. Following commissioning of the new facility, the supply is projected to reach around 40 MLD. Strengthening the municipality’s pipelines and storage facilities to handle the additional 19 MLD has been estimated to require approximately ₹24 crore.
Thrikkakara’s water supply is expected to increase from about 24 MLD to 48 MLD. The related distribution and storage improvements have been provisionally estimated at around ₹30 crore.
Separate works valued at approximately ₹25 crore may also be required to improve supply infrastructure serving Varappuzha and Eloor.Kadavanthra is expected to receive an additional 18 MLD. Plans under consideration include the construction of a storage facility capable of holding approximately 18 million litres of water. These figures are based on preliminary estimates attributed to Kerala Water Authority officials and may change following detailed surveys, engineering studies and administrative approvals.
The Aluva project could substantially increase the volume of treated water available to Kochi’s urban and suburban areas. However, the effective use of this additional capacity will depend on the timely completion of transmission mains, local distribution pipelines, pumping arrangements and storage reservoirs.
Coordinating the treatment plant with the downstream network improvements will therefore be important to ensure that the increased water-production capacity reaches the intended communities efficiently.