Kochi continues to grapple with acute water crisis
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Different parts of Kochi have been grappling with an acute water shortage over the past several weeks. Recent pipe bursts and shutdowns at the water treatment plants at Aluva and Maradu have exacerbated the crisis. Even with the supply being restored, the tail-end areas and houses in the interiors continue to be affected.
Sankaranarayanan K.S., secretary of Mukkottil Temple Road Residents Association, Poonithura, said that over 500 families in the southern part of Poonithura, Vyttila, are struggling without water. “We started facing the issue back in 2024, and the situation worsened after the Thammanam tank burst,” he added.
Several residents near T.D. Road said water supply disruptions were not frequent in their area until very recently. “It was after the Thammanam tank burst that the area got affected. There are several aged and ailing people living here, and they are the ones who are severely affected,” said K.S. Dilip Kumar, president of T.D. Road Citizens Welfare Association and vice-president of Residents Associations’ Coordination Council.
Devi R. Menon, an octogenarian who lives near TD Road, said that life had been a struggle with frequent water supply disruptions. “I have been living here since 1980, and water supply has been disrupted only twice. I live alone with my househelp, and these disruptions cause undue stress and have severely impacted my health,” said Ms. Menon.
A staff member at the public health laboratory on T.D. Road said that, for the past two months, the facility has been forced to rely on tanker lorries for water. “We need water not just for our staff and patients but for our machines as well,” said the staff.
Philomina Mohandas, president of the northern area unit of Ernakulam District Residents’ Associations’ Apex Council, said several houses at Cemetery Junction in Kacheripady, SRM Road, and Kannachan Thodu in Ayyappankavu had been affected. “Water supply has completely stopped in these regions. Since the streets are too narrow for tankers to enter, residents are forced to carry water to their homes,” said Ms. Mohandas.
According to Panampilly Nagar councillor Antony Painuthara, several families in his division have been affected. “Some families are facing an acute crisis. The areas affected include LIG, MIG, Lewis Lane, and Parambithara Road,” said Mr. Painuthara.
According to Kerala Water Authority (KWA) officials, while supply has been restored, it will take a few more days for the supply to reach all consumers.
“The spike in temperature has led to an increase in demand. Pipe bursts, along with the shutdown of the plants, led to the crisis. Water supply has largely been restored. At present, consumers in tail-end areas remain affected, and we are addressing the issue,” said a KWA source.
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