The Hindu Business Line : Chennai getting new water treatment facility

Chennai, July 16 The 530 million litre a day (mld) water treatment facility at Chembarambakkam, one of the reservoirs that is a source of drinking water to Chennai, is expected to go on stream Friday.

This facility, to be inaugurated by the Chief Minister, Mr M. Karunanidhi, will be a key factor in ensuring daily supply of water for the city’s residents and industries.

According to Mr Shiv Das Meena, Managing Director, Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, the reservoir at Poonamallee, about 25 km west of Chennai, will treat the water received from Andhra Pradesh through the Krishna water supply project. Under the Krishna water project, Chennai will get about 930 million litres a day (12 thousand million cubic feet, or about one lakh tanker loads) of water.

The existing water treatment capacity in the city can handle about 400 mld of the Krishna water supply available now. But as supply increases to full capacity the addition will be crucial.

The 530 mld plant augments the existing treatment capacity available at Kilpauk water treatment plant (270 mld), Puzhal water treatment plant (300 mld) and Vadakuthu water treatment plant (180 mld).

From Chembarambakkam the treated water will be supplied to the city and other local bodies in the Chennai Metropolitan Area, he said.

Water supply to Chennai is maintained at about 575 mld to Chennai’s residents and an additional 70 mld to the industrial units.

The per capita supply is about 107 litres against what is considered the norm of about 150 litres.

The water treatment plant at Chembarambakkam has been set up by Degremont SA, of France, a subsidiary of Suez Environment, a global leader in water and wastewater treatment.

The water treatment plant has been set up at a total cost of Rs 134.09 crore, including about Rs 28 crore (€62,80,900) French Government assistance.