Here, treated water goes down the drain

Thiruvananthapuram: In view of the drinking water crisis, the Kerala Water Authority has stopped giving connections for construction and irrigation purposes nearly a month ago. However, around 42 million litres of water, which can be used for construction and irrigation purposes is being wasted into Parvathy Puthanar daily.
The treated water from sewage treatment plant from Muttathara is available for non-drinking purpose. Despite KWA agreeing to provide it free of cost, there are only a few takers for the water. Two years ago, KWA had introduced a vending point at STP Muttathara for people to collect water, which was released after treating the sewage. Due to lack of awareness and hesitation to use treated effluent, there were only a few takers for water so far.

Officials of STP said that a few persons approached them this summer for irrigation purpose. “We would make them write an undertaking that the treated water would be used only for non-drinking purpose. The vehicle must specifically mention that the water is for non-drinking purpose,” KWA officials said.

Senior officials of KWA, however, said that they were wary of the misuse of treated water for drinking purpose, especially at a time when some areas of the city were facing a drinking water crisis. “We take all necessary measures to ensure that it would be used only for non-drinking purpose. However, once it is given, it will be very difficult to ensure that it is used only for non-drinking purposes,” an official said.

Ever since it began functioning in June 2013, the STP has been releasing 42 mld treated effluent to Parvathy Puthanar. The treated water released to Parvathy Puthanar is odourless and colourless. Against its original capacity of 107 mld, the STP could only treat 42 mld sewage due to lack of sewer connectivity in the city.