Chennai: Chennai metro water plans to set up a 45 million litres a day capacity tertiary sewage treatment plant in Kodungaiyur replicating Singapore’s model of reusing treated water for industrial purposes, to meet with the rising demand for industrial water in North Chennai. Industrial water demand in North Chennai is expected to double by 2020. The supply of industrial grade water will prevent industries from taking fresh water from rain fed lakes, which can be diverted to augment city water supply.
A senior metro water official said the public utility board in Singapore produces high grade reclaimed water called ‘NEWater’ from treated used water that is further purified using advance membrane technologies and ultra violet disinfection to make it ultra clean and safe to drink. It is primarily used for non-potable industrial purpose. The 45 MLD Tertiary Treatment and Reverse Osmosis (TTRO) will come up at a cost of Rs 255 crore in seven acres of land inside the premises of the Kodungaiyur Sewage Treatment Plant itself.
The board plans to invite tenders in August and expected to complete the construction work of the plant along with conveying pipeline for distribution in two years time from the date of issuance of work order, said the senior official. Once the plant is commissioned, the board will be able to ensure sustained supply of TTRO water of good quality. “The quality of water also matches with the potable water quality with turbidity less than five, harness less than 100 milligram per litre, TDS less than 70 mg per litre and zero iron level which very suitable for industrial purposes,” the official said.
Several new water intensive industries including power plants and petrochemical industries are coming up in Ennore and Minjur and the existing plants in Manali also going on an expansion mode.
Metro water conducted a study to assess water demand for industries in Manali-Ennore and Manali-Minjur corridors. It revealed that the demand would go up from 30 MLD in 2015 to 70 MLD in 2020 and would touch 75 MLD by 2030.
At present, the water agency is supplying 36 MLD of secondary treated effluent to industries in Manali through which the board earns revenue of '15 crore per year. “Once the TTRP is set up, it will supply 45 MLD water to 34 industries and it will fetch a revenue of '74 crore per annum to the board,” the official said.
