The Kerala Water Authority has increased its revenue through more efficient billing, production, prevention of water theft and changing of old pipelines.
The total revenue of KWA in the last financial year from the city and the suburban areas was Rs. 104.5 crore, while the first quarter revenue from April to July is up at Rs. 37 crore.
The first quarter is usually rather dull in revenue collection with most of it coming in in the last quarter, said superintending engineer, Ernakulam, Babu Thomas. However, the collection showed a jump in the first quarter itself, he said.
The Kakkanad region alone had reflected a jump in the revenue from less than Rs. 90 lakh in the first four months of the last financial year to Rs. 1.77 crore this year.
According to Mr. Thomas, the old pipeline replacement works had been taken up in many areas. In Thrikkakara alone, 18 km of pipeline had been changed out of the total of about 100 km of pipeline changed in the area under his jurisdiction.
Old pipelines
Old pipelines in Thrikkakara had been a major problem in water supply since increase in the water supply had resulted in pipe bursts in many areas while the lower pressure would result in water not reaching all places.
Even though the network remains haphazard and supply inequitable as in other places in the city, Mr. Thomas said that there were at least 30 per cent areas in Thrikkakara where there was 24x7 supply with 400 litres per capita per day (LPCD).
The standard for major cities where piped water supply and sewage system exists is 150 LPCD.
