Water supply being restored, claims KWA a day after storage tank collapse in Kochi

Water supply is being restored and pumping resumed a day after the drinking water supply was disrupted in several parts of Kochi Corporation following the collapse of the wall of a storage tank at Thammanam, the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) has claimed. Pumping to the Thripunithura region began around 11 a.m. on Tuesday (November 11, 2025) from chamber 2 of the tank, which was not affected by the collapse.

“Repair work was carried out on a war footing to avert water scarcity, and pumping began from the second chamber of the water storage tank on Tuesday,” said Roshy Augustine, Minister for Water Resources.

The drinking water supply to 30% of areas within Kochi Corporation and nearby local bodies was affected after the sidewall of one of the chambers of the twin-chambered water storage tank of the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) at Thammanam collapsed.

According to KWA sources, it will take a few more days for the water supply to be fully restored. Besides areas within the Corporation limits, Pachalam, Vaduthala, Petta, and Cheranalloor panchayat have also been affected

Although pumping has resumed, some consumers at the tail end of the network may face water shortages due to low pressure. “The issue will be addressed by supplying water through tanker lorries. In areas inaccessible to tankers, small tanks will be used,” the Minister said.

The possibility of revamping and renovating the collapsed tank is also being considered. The structural engineering wing of the KWA, the design engineering wing of the Public Works department, and Cochin University of Science and Technology have been assigned the task. The Minister added that, according to preliminary reports, the collapse was not caused by any structural defect but by the foundation sinking into the soil.

Repair work

Pumping in the second chamber began on Tuesday after a series of repair works. This included blocking one of the 700 mm pipes that carried water from the Aluva plant (via a 1,200 mm diameter pipe) to both compartments of the storage tank. Water from the Maradu plant was diverted to the unaffected chamber (Chamber 2), which had earlier received water through the now-collapsed Chamber 1. The interconnection between the two chambers was also sealed off.