The two desalination plants in Minjur and Nemmeli are being operated for drinking water supply to the city. There are no traces of oil found near the shoreline in these areas and the operation of the plants has not been affected.
According to sources in VA Tech Wabagh, the firm that operates and maintains the Nemmeli desalination plant, the oil spill has not reached the shoreline along Nemmeli so far and the situation is being monitored closely. The treated water is also being tested daily.
The raw water for the plant is being sourced through a 1,050 metre-long pipeline, which is sunk at a depth of nearly 14 metre in the sea. The desalination plant, located about 35 km south of Chennai, has a capacity to treat 100 million litres a day.
On Saturday, a team of Chennai Metrowater officials too inspected the plant.
Residents of Nemmeli too said they had not noticed any traces of the oil spill near the shoreline in their area so far. Similarly, the 100 mld plant in Minjur too is being closely monitored and is operational.
