Drinking water scarcity issues are expected to be addressed with the commissioning of the new water treatment plant at Aruvikkara, the construction of which began three months ago. According to officials of the city Corporation, which is funding the project under the Centre’s Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme, the work is expected to be completed early next year.
The drinking water supply to the city is taken care of by the 86 million litres per day (mld), 74 mld, 72 mld water treatment plants at Aruvikkara and the 36 mld plant at Vellayambalam.
Under the AMRUT project, a 75 mld water treatment plant is being built. The commissioning of this plant will increase the per capita supply of water to the city. Currently, the daily supply to the city is 100 litres per capita per day (LPCD). A considerable increase is expected in this figure once the new plant starts functioning.
“The frequent water shortage issues in some areas of the city will be addressed with this new plant. The supply will vastly improve. Although we have good connectivity now, elevated areas still experience scarcity during peak hours. The large number of new connections, especially for big flats, have contributed to this. Increased supply can take care of this issue,” said an official of the Kerala Water Authority (KWA).
On a 3-acre plot
Under the AMRUT project, ₹70 crore has been earmarked for the project, with the Central government bearing 50% of the costs, the State government bearing 30% and the city Corporation, 20%. The plant is coming up on a three-acre plot, from which trees were cleared a few months ago.
The current water level in Peppara dam was at a comfortable 107.12 metres as on Monday, comparable to the levels at this time last year. The year before that, the city had witnessed one of its worst droughts.
In that year, the water level was close to 102 metres at the same period.
