The Hindu Business Line : SIPCOT gearing up to meet industrial parks' water demand

Even as the industry promotion agencies prepare to acquire more land they have recognised that the need for water could emerge a limiting factor if not addressed fast.

The spate of investments to the west of Chennai in industrial parks promoted by the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT) at Irrungattukottai, Sriperumbudur, Oragadam, means over the next two years more people and more industrial processes will need water. Over 6,000 acres of land has been taken up and estimates indicate that an equal area would be needed.

After land, SIPCOT is gearing up to meet the demand for water.

It is not just the people who will need water but industrial processes - printed circuit board manufacturers are water guzzlers. Foxconn alone will need about 30 million litres a day. Also, car manufacturers such as Hyundai, which is expanding, and Saint Gobain, which has expanded, need assured supply.

`Enough water'

For now, there is enough and more water to spare. Fortunately, the recent rains have ensured supply over the next two years. Two valuable years to ensure long term supply of water in an area where ground water is at a premium, they say.

The real option they believe is in recycling water for industrial use. Replicate the success model of North Chennai, where industries such as the Chennai Petroleum Corporation and Madras Fertilizers Ltd have implemented sewage water recycling. They have set up their own tertiary water treatment and reverse osmosis facility to meet their needs.

According to Government officials, SIPCOT is looking at ways to set up a tertiary treatment facility to recycle Chennai's sewage water for industrial use. The options being examined are whether SIPCOT would set up the facility itself or jointly with other industries.

Officials say that over 90 million litres of secondary treated sewage is available from the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board's treatment plant in Koyambedu and an additional 130 million litres a day from the Nesapakkam treatment facility. Assuming that 60 per cent of this could be recovered, about 120 million litres of freshwater a day, would be available for reuse.

SIPCOT now draws water from the Chembarambakkam lake, a source for the city's water supply. SIPCOT can draw about five million gallons a day, but actually utilises only about one-fifth of that. It has also sought permission from the authorities concerned to draw more water. But in the long run, industry cannot compete with drinking water needs and has to depend on recycling, feel officials.

More Stories on : Infrastructure | Water | Tamil Nadu

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