An ambitious water project of Kochi City Corporation aimed at providing drinking water at ₹1 per litre is proving to be a hit.

Mayor Soumini Jain said there is a huge demand from various quarters after the water treatment plant was commissioned at Pandikkudy in Fort Kochi last month.

The plant is now selling over 300 jars of 20-litre capacity drinking water a day, she said.

Cost per jar

Water produced at a cost of ₹10 per 20-litre jar at the plant is being distributed to people in the city corporation by women self-help group ‘Kudumbashree’ for ₹20, while other branded water jars of 20 litres are sold for a minimum of ₹50 a jar, the Mayor said.

“Such plants that can process 2,000 litres of water an hour can produce and market 2,400 jars of 20-litre capacity every day. Apart from supplying pure water at affordable price, the project ensures a decent profit and 10 to 12 fulltime jobs for Kudumbashree workers,” the Mayor said.

The plant, set up on behalf of Kerala State Women’s Development Corporation Ltd (KSWDC), is operated, managed and maintained by Dharana Infrastructure Projects Pvt Ltd, a company incorporated to do social enterprising in the field of affordable, safe drinking water.

Demand for plants

PTM Sunish, Managing Director, KSWDC, said many local bodies across the State are approaching KSWDC to set up plants in their areas. “We target to set up around 250 plants by the end of this financial year,” he said.

The ₹25.5 lakh plant draws water from a tube well. The water is processed at six stages – iron removal filter, dual filter, carbon filter, micron filter, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet filter – before being dispatched for delivery under the brand name Kochi Water, said Eby Thomas, Managing Director, Dharana Infrastructure Projects Pvt Ltd.

“Any contaminated water, other than sea water, can be processed in this plant and the quality meets or exceeds World Health Organization Standards and Indian Standards ISI0500,” he added.

comment COMMENT NOW