Kochi Corporation is set to receive nearly 80 million litres per day (MLD) of additional treated water once the 190-MLD water treatment plant (WTP) at Aluva becomes operational.
Water supply to municipalities such as Eloor, Thrikkakara, Kalamassery, and Aluva will also improve, with Kalamassery and Thrikkakara each receiving an additional 24-28 MLD, Eloor an additional 6 MLD, and Vypeen an additional 30-35 MLD, significantly strengthening the region’s drinking water supply, according to Kerala Water Authority (KWA) sources. Overall, the project will benefit the Kochi Corporation, five municipalities, and 13 grama panchayats.
The State government recently granted administrative sanction for the construction of the WTP. The project, first proposed in 2022, is expected to address the drinking water shortage in the Kochi Corporation and nearby municipalities and grama panchayats. An amount of ₹523 crore has been sanctioned for the project, which is scheduled for completion within 15 months. The areas covered include Ernakulam city, Vypeen, Aluva, western Kochi, and Maradu.
Once commissioned, the plant will have the highest treatment capacity among water treatment plants in Kerala. According to KWA estimates, the water demand in the project area is expected to reach 598 MLD by 2050.
Pulsed technology
According to KWA sources, the proposed plant at Aluva incorporates several advanced features and marks a departure from conventional treatment systems. “During the monsoon, the Periyar river experiences high levels of turbidity. As a result, there is a significant amount of suspended solid matter in the water. The plant has been designed with clarification units to remove this. The clarifier will use ‘pulsed technology’ to effectively address high turbidity, while dual-media filter beds have been provided to enhance the quality of treated water, the source said.
The Aluva region is also prone to flooding. Accordingly, the WTP has been designed at a higher elevation, making it flood-resistant. It has also been planned as an environmentally sustainable facility, the source said.
Solar panels will be used to conserve energy by powering some of the electrical and mechanical equipment, including sensors, smaller-capacity valves, and lighting systems. The design and detailed project report (DPR) were prepared using the KWA’s in-house expertise.
With the commissioning of the plant, the KWA aims to ensure a 24×7 uninterrupted water supply through a continuously full transmission and distribution system. A smart water distribution network has also been planned, with sensors to be installed at key points to monitor flow and other required parameters. Water quality monitoring sensors will enable real-time monitoring of residual chlorine and other parameters, allowing timely remedial measures whenever required, the source added.
Besides the Kochi Corporation, the project will benefit the municipalities of Aluva, Eloor, Kalamassery, Thrikkakara, and Maradu, as well as 13 grama panchayats: Edathala, Choornikkara, Keezhmadu, Varappuzha, Cheranelloor, Nayarambalam, Njarakkal, Elamkunnappuzha, Mulavukad, Kumbalam, Chellanam, Kumbalangy, and Kadamakkudi.
Published – July 12, 2026 10:19 pm IST
