Demand for tertiary treated sewage water from industries will double in the next five years, says Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board.

Currently, the board sells 65 mld (million litres a day) of treated sewage water to various industries in Manali, Avadi and Irungattukottai – at Rs 10.75 for a kilo litre. Majority of industries use this water to cool boilers.

There is an additional demand for about 120 mld from SIPCOT – the industrial belt at Sriperumbudur and Oragadam, which will be met through supply of treated water from Koyambedu and Nesapakkam treatment plants, says Mr K. Gopal, Managing Director, Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board.

The board proposes to construct another treatment plant to treat 120 mld at Koyambedu.

The Rs 116-crore project, was sanctioned under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, would come up at 25-acre site in the existing facility at Koyambedu.

A tender has already been floated to design, build and commissioning the plant with activated sludge process with diffused aerators including operation and maintenance for five years.

“We have also put in place a special wing to market this product,” said Mr Gopal.

Koyambedu plant

At present, the plant at Koyambedu has the capacity to treat 94 mld of sewage generated in localities such as Kodambakkam, Anna Nagar, Virugambakkam and T. Nagar.

The city generates over 475 ml of sewage water every day. The expanded local bodies are expected to add another 219 mld taking the total to close to 800 mld; and the available treatment capacity is inequitable.

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