In the face of a biting drought, the Kerala Water Authority would from Tuesday ration the pumping of water to the city. Of the 268 million litres daily (mld) generated, the KWA’s efforts are designed to bring about a reduction of 25%.
This is for the first time that the KWA is resorting to water rationing in the capital city. Irrigation Minister Mathew T. Thomas visited Peppara dam on Monday and reiviewed the availability of water there.
The rationing would be effected by reducing the water generated and pumped from Aruvikkara by half. A senior KWA engineer said that ‘single pump’ operations would be done from 6 am. to 6 pm. During the night full pumping would resume at Aruvikkara.
During all-pump operations, the KWA would also systematically control valves in the pipeline network so that maximum water reaches the elevated areas in the city. During the day time, all these valves would be de-throttled so that low-lying areas also get adequate water.
“We are not claiming that this would fully solve the water shortage, but there would be noticeable changes in the city. Water tankers would reach water to areas that run dry despite the rationed supply,” the senior engineer said.”
There are also plans to install water tanks at places that are worst hit. The water kiosks purchased by the city corporation for the Pongala festival would also be deployed at select locations.
The KWA has also put on notice its bulk consumers to reduce their consumption by half. All special causal connections—water connections given to construction sites—have been terminated. Arrangements have been in place for detecting water theft. KWA teams, in tandem with police and revenue authorities would pro-actively search and cap illegal and unauthorised use of piped water.
Despite such reforms the water level at Peppara dam does not look rosy. Even with these restrictions in place Peppara only has water to last the city till May 15.
