Residents of some multi-storeyed buildings in the city have raised concerns about being unable to book smaller-capacity mobile water tankers, forcing them to pay more for unused water.
However, Chennai Metrowater noted that tanker supply was allotted according to the type of buildings and dwelling units. This was to prevent multiple booking of tankers from same location in core areas and divert smaller capacity vehicles to narrow streets and individual houses.
On average, the water agency operates between 3,600 and 3,800 trips daily depending on demand. This includes street water supply and those on payment. Of the total domestic water supply of 1,052 million litres a day, nearly 31 mld is provided through water tankers to domestic consumers.
Residents have urged the water agency to take their needs into account when hiring larger-capacity tankers. Geetha Ganesh, secretary, AGS Colony residents’ welfare association, Velachery, said many apartments in the area, which have less than 6 units, were built three decades ago with sumps that can hold less than nine kilolitres. But the online system does not allow even households with more than one owner to book 6-kl tankers.
Jayanthi Premchandar of Valmiki Nagar said residents are forced to book 9-kl water tankers even though their sumps can fill only less amount of water. Metrowater must allow bookings based on residents’ needs.
Sources in Metrowater said measures are being taken to improve infrastructure to reduce mobile tanker trips. The current system was being followed to encourage residents to move to piped water supply in added areas and avoid misuse through GPS tracking of vehicles.
Published – August 03, 2025 01:09 am IST
