Pilot scheme to ensure round-the-clock water supply to begin in Adyar zone

Residents of Adyar zone will get round-the-clock piped water supply by the end of this year as Chennai Metrowater will soon appoint a concessionaire to implement the continuous drinking water supply.

The water agency, which is now supplying 35 million litres a day (mld) of water intermittently, would provide about 50 mld of drinking water on a 24×7 basis to wards –169,170, 173,174, 178 to 180 – once the project is completed in two years. Residents would be charged according to water use, and smart water meters would be installed to measure water consumption.

The ambitious project is based on the study done by Water Corporation of Odisha to improve Pallipattu and Thiruvanmiyur water distribution stations and execute the round-the-clock drinking water supply in Adyar zone on a pilot basis. It may be recalled that Metrowater had signed a memorandum of understanding with WATCO in July 2023 to implement the project in Kodambakkam and Adyar zones.

Officials of the Metrowater noted that this may not be like ‘Drink from Tap Mission’ in Puri, Odisha. The concept is to ensure continuous, uninterrupted water supply to 64,000 households covering localities, including Adyar, Kotturpuram, Besant Nagar, Guindy, Ekkaduthangal and Taramani, through automation of operations and constant pressure pumping. Pipelines running for 377 km would be covered in the project.

Residents of Adyar noted that the project would help maintain an equitable water supply in all the streets. It should also put an end to recurring issues of water mixing with sewage water in some streets.

Janani Venkitesh, secretary, ROKA (Residents of Kasturba Association) said “We get adequate water supply now and it is supplied twice a day in some areas. The pilot scheme to give 24*7 water supply is a welcome initiative to help use resources judiciously. The water agency must gather residents’ feedback about effectiveness of the 24×7 metered water distribution system after its implementation.”

The pilot project is one of the three schemes being taken up by Metrowater under Hybrid Annuity Model -a public private partnership model- wherein the concessionaire must improve operational efficiency and install smart infrastructure.

The entire distribution network would be divided into district metered areas by installing boundary valves and flow meters. Water supply would be provided to dedicated pockets instead of combining with neighbouring areas from the same source to maintain equitable water supply, officials said.

The project would use Internet of Things (IoT) technology for data collection and monitoring to reduce water loss and improve water management in the zone. The concessionaire must maintain the network for 15 years.

Metrowater is already establishing a similar distribution system for uninterrupted water supply in two wards of Valasaravakkam zone.