The two major drinking water supply schemes, the Coimbatore - Siruvani and scheme and the Pilloor scheme have one thing in common. Both depend on external factors.
In Siruvani, the storage, depending on rainfall, decides supply. Pilloor suffers breakdown at frequent intervals and disrupts supply for days. But, periodicity, duration and quantity of water supply are uncertain in both the schemes.
The Siruvani flow is controlled by slopes but Pilloor requires pumping from Velliangadu. The supply from Siruvani is not assured since it is dependent on storage while in Pilloor (which is in the Pykara Ultimate Stage Hydel Power – PUSH), storage is not a problem. But the scheme often runs into trouble because of pumping.
Power shutdown or fluctuations often lead to leak, burst, breach in the pipeline and the city and its way-side habitations will have to go without drinking water for even up to 10 days.
The supply after a gap of 10 days is tolerable for residents in areas that get water supply once in three days. But, a setback in supply cycle leaves residents in deep trouble, especially those in areas that used to get water once in seven or 10 days.
The existing Pilloor (Phase I) drinking water supply scheme has pre-stressed concrete (PSC) pipes. Of the total length of 28.75 km from Velliangadu to Karattumedu, only 10 km has mild steel pipes and the remaining PSC pipes. These pipes are vulnerable to bursts, breaches and leaks whenever there is power fluctuation or shutdown.
Hence, following a policy decision, the PSC pipes were replaced with MS pipes.
In the first phase's 10 km distance that was identified as vulnerable, 1.8 km stretch has been replaced. The authorities utilised a shutdown on November 15 and 16 to link the MS pipeline with the old PSC pipeline but the work was completed only on the night of November 18. Pumping of water has commenced but many areas in the city have not got water supply even after 10 days.
For the remaining distance, the initial work has started for 4 km and for the remaining 4.2 km estimates are being done. Once completed, the Pilloor first phase scheme will become trouble-free, officials point out.
The water drawn from the Pilloor reservoir reaches the Velliangadu treatment plant from there it passes through a 1500 diameter main pipeline which passes through Kattan Hills, Veerapandi Pirivu, Keeranatham, Karattumedu and Saravanampatti Main Storage Reservoir (MSR).
From MSR, the Corporation begins the supply to overhead tanks at Peelamedu, Singanallur, Puliakulam, DJ Nagar, Anna Nagar, SIHS Colony, Meena Estate, Sidhapudur and Town Hall. Any delay or slowdown in supply to MSR will have a cascading effect on the supply from these reservoirs to residential areas in the city especially those in former East, North and part of South Zones. The Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD) authorities are confident of finishing the replacement of PSC pipes with MS pipes in vulnerable areas within the next few months.
Meanwhile, the exclusive drinking water supply scheme i.e., Pilloor Phase II, which is in its final stages, is expected to be completed in a few months.
Works are on for digging a tunnel near the Velliangadu water works. Once commissioned, this scheme is expected to relieve the city from frequent disruptions in supply.
The scheme, hopefully to become operational by mid 2012, is expected to end the water scarcity in Ganapathy, Avarampalayam, Pappanaickenpalayam, Sungam, Ramanathapuram, Peelamedu, Sowripalayam, Udayampalayam, Singanallur and Ondipudur areas.
