Thiruvananthapuram Braces for Two-Day Water Supply Disruption
Thiruvananthapuram is set to experience significant water supply disruptions on Monday and Tuesday due to scheduled maintenance work at the crucial 75 MLD Aruvikkara water treatment plant. This essential upkeep follows a recent power cable fault that forced the plant's temporary shutdown last week.
Maintenance Schedule and Affected Areas
Officials from the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) have confirmed that water supply will be affected from 8am to 8pm on both days. The maintenance involves critical work at the treatment plant itself, along with cleaning operations at storage tanks located at Gangadevi and Observatory Hills. This comprehensive procedure is deemed necessary to stabilize the system after the recent electrical disruption.
Root Cause: Power Cable Damage During Road Works
The need for this maintenance stems directly from an incident last week. During ongoing road development works, the power cable supplying electricity to the Aruvikkara facility was damaged, forcing the complete shutdown of the treatment plant on Friday. This resulted in a near-total suspension of water supply across the city.
While the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) rectified the fault and restored power the same day, allowing pumping to resume, many residents reported continued issues. "Locals in several areas, particularly in higher-lying localities, complained that water supply remained weak or irregular even after the restoration," a KWA official noted.
Official Statement and Public Concerns
Manoj M, Executive Engineer at KWA Aruvikkara, emphasized the unavoidable nature of the upcoming disruption. "The damage to the power cable was fixed, and pumping has resumed. However, maintenance of the plant and cleaning of tanks are required after such disruptions. The water supply will be restored immediately after the work is completed," he stated.
However, public frustration is mounting. Residents highlight that water supply disruptions have become increasingly frequent as road construction intensifies across the city. Areas such as Vellayambalam, Pattom, Palayam, PMG, and surrounding localities face recurring shortages, often attributed to pipeline damage during these construction projects.
Economic Impact on Households
The repeated interruptions have forced many households to seek alternative water sources at a considerable cost. Locals report relying on private water tankers, paying between Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000 per load, a significant financial burden for families already dealing with inconsistent municipal supply.
The KWA assures citizens that this two-day maintenance is a critical step to ensure long-term system reliability and prevent future disruptions of this scale. Residents are advised to store water and plan accordingly for the scheduled outage.
