Kerala - Kochi   

KWA cracks down on illegal drawing of drinking water from pipelines

K.S. Sudhi

Several water connections terminated

NEED FOR ACTION: Even as the Kerala Water Authority is on a drive to check illegal drawing of water, large quantity of drinking water is lost through leaking pipes in the city. - Photo: H. Vibhu

KOCHI: The special squads formed by the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) to check illegal drawing of drinking water have detected several cases of violation of norms by consumers in the city.

Officials of the (KWA) detected ten such major cases in West Kochi alone and ordered termination of connections, recently.

The drawing of drinking water from the KWA pipelines using electric motor is classified as a major offence. However, instances of using hand pumps for illegal drawing of water are treated lightly since acute water shortage is forcing the people to do so in areas like West Kochi, said a KWA official.

The supply connection to a nunnery at Chellanam was terminated by the KWA as part of the drive recently. On inspection, it was found that over 10,000 litres of drinking water was stored in the storage facility at the nunnery. The KWA had earlier terminated the water connection to the nunnery following the detection of using electric motors for drawing water, the official said.

More connections will be terminated in the West Kochi area in the coming days. Two cases of illegal using of motor have been detected at Kaloor and Pallimukku divisions of the KWA. More squads will be deployed in the coming days to look for illegal drawing of water, the officials say.

As the KWA is not in a position to suddenly raise the quantity of water supplied through pipes, the only way out is to check illegal drawing of water and distribute the available water equitably. The crackdown is expected to increase supply of water up to 30 per cent, said the officials.

The drawing of drinking water using motor pumps upsets the drinking water distribution system, besides causing heavy monetary loss and ruptures in the pipeline. The vacuum formed in the pipelines will lead to pipe-bursts and it will not be easy to locate the leakage.

The drinking water supplied through the pipes will also get contaminated, as polluted water gets mixed with the drinking water — thus putting public health in jeopardy. The drawing of water will also lead to the formation of air blocks inside the pipelines, which prevents the flow of water to elevated areas, it has been pointed out.

The KWA will levy a heavy fine on the guilty, which will be tabulated on the basis of capacity of the motor, the pumping hours and also the quantity of consumption of water. The guilty, after paying the fine, will also have to tender a written apology to the Authority. Once the fine is paid, it will take at least three months for restoring the connection.

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