Sectors

Water Supply

Access to and provision of safe drinking water to every household in the ULB has been one of the primary concerns of the Government. Ensuring equitable and adequate supply of safe drinking water and its effective delivery is a major challenge for the ULBs.
To achieve the above primary objective, the Government has initiated various water supply projects under Tamil Nadu Urban Development Project(TNUDP – III), Urban Infrastructure Governance (UIG) and Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT), Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM), Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and German Development Bank (Kfw). Attal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT),Tamil Nadu Sustainable Urban Development Project (TNSUDP) & Smart City Mission. Para-Statal agencies such as the TWAD Board and the CMWSS Board have also taken up the implementation of water supply schemes.
Apart from the Para-statal agencies, certain Corporations and Municipalities have started implementing of major water supply schemes on their own.
Norms prescribed by Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organization (CPHEEO) for drinking water supply in Corporations and Municipalities covered by underground sewerage system is 135 Litres Per Capita per Day (LPCD) and 90 LPCD for non UGSS towns. The aim of the ULBs to implement the water supply schemes with the objective of achieving these norms.
The status of water supply in Corporations and Municipalities are as detailed below:

 

ULBs	Range (LPCD)	No of ULBs
Corporations	110 LPCD & Above	8
	70 LPCD to 109 LPCD	5
	Below 70 LPCD	1
Municipalities	90 LPCD & Above	75
	40 LPCD to 89 LPCD	46
	Total	135

 

Under implementation of several water supply schemes, the water supply increased to 1904.98 MLD and the corresponding per capita supply also increased to 126 LPCD.

 

Sl.No	Source of Funding	No. of Local Bodies	Estimate Cost [Rs.in Crores)	Completed ULBs	Ongoing
1	TNUDP III	16	661.65	Tirunelveli (Thachanallur), Gobichettypalayam, Pollachi, Bodinayakanur, Salem stage-1 & II, Kurichy, Kuniyamuthur, Koundampalayam, Vadavalli (Merged with Coimbatore Corporation), Tiruvannamalai, Sivagangai, Thuraiyur, Krishnagiri, Kuzhithurai	Pallavapuram, Pammal, Theni- Allinagaram
2	UIG (JnNURM)	10	613.3	Madurai (Vaigai-II and Checkdam), Coimbatore(Pillur-II), Tambaram, Anaiyur, Tirupparakundram, Avaniyapuram, (Merged with Madurai Corporation), Tirumangalam, Coimbatore added area (Thudiyalur, Vellakinaru, Kalapatti, Saravanampatti&Chinnavedampatti), Avadi	Anakaputtur
3	UIDSSMT	40	740.47	Devakottai, Karur, Valparai, Tirupattur, Ramanathapuram, Paramakudi, Keelakarai, Sivagangai, Rameshwaram, Arakonam, Thiruthani, Aranthangi, Maraimalai Nagar, Vickaramasingapuram, Namakal, Srivilliputtur, Gudalore (Nilgirs) Erode, Rasipuram, Thanjavur, Villupuram, Ottanchathiram, Mettur, Athur, Vandhavasi, Vellakoil, Thiruchenkode, Karaikudi, Palladam, Chidambaram, Dharapuram, Periyakulam, Thiruvathipuram, Kangeyam, Kayalpattinam, Cumbum, Arani, Tindivanam.	Kovilpatti, Tindivanam, Kodaikanal
4	JICA	9	663.68	Trichy, Dindugal, Thoothukudi, Palani, coonoor, Idappadi, Devakottai, Mettupalayam, Udumalaipettai	–
5	KfW	15	869.15	Tirunelveli, Kadaiyanallur, Tiruvannamalai, Pallipalayam, Cuddalore, Karur, Thanthoni, InamKarur[Merged with Karur] and Udhagamandalam.	Coonoor, Padmanabapuram,Tirunelvelli, Bodinayakkanur, Trichy, Coimbatore (Extn Area)
6	AMRUT	14	5500.66	Thanjavur, Ambur	Coimbattore, Tiruppur, Erode, Vellore, Nagercoil,Hosur, Rajapalayam, Kumbakonam, Coimbattore (Added area), CoimbattorePillur III, Tiruppur, Madurai (MullaiPeriyar)
7	TNSUDP	6	660.37	–	Namakkal, CWSS to Sankarankoil, Puliyangudi, Rajapalayam, Sivakasi, Thiruthangal.

 

 

Efficient Water Management System:

The Government accords top priority to the improvement of the Water Management Systems in Corporations and Municipalities. The following measures are being taken:-

• Implementing modern control and monitoring systems with the provision of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA) to continuously monitor the transfer of data on water flow, performance and efficiency of pumps and motors, physical and chemical quality parameters of water.
• Replacing the inefficient motors and pumps to improve the efficiency of the pumping system in water supply.
• Revamping the existing water supply network to ensure equitable distribution of water.

District Metering Areas (DMA):

Water supply distribution is being done by dividing the supply network into number of DMA’s for the purpose of monitoring and control of Unaccounted-for-water (UFW). In general, about 500-4000 connections are considered during the formation of DMA. Each DMA area would be having a well- defined boundary with DMA meters, isolation valves on both upstream and downstream of the DMA for easy maintenance. Boundary valves are planned on the boundary of each DMA areas where pipes are interlinked. These boundary valves are generally kept in closed position and are operated only during emergency to allow flow of water from one zone to another. These DMAs shall be further divided into sub zones for periodical testing purpose with valve for monitoring and reduction of UFW as per water supply industry practice. These sub zones also help in isolating the sections during repairing of leaks or carrying out maintenance, without interrupting the total supply to the DMA.

Rain Water Harvesting (RWH):

The path-breaking Rain water Harvesting Programme was launched in 2001 under the visionary leadership of the Hon’ble Chief Minister AMMA. The effective implementation of this scheme during 2001-2006 had reaped rich dividends in enhancing ground water table.

On the directions of the Hon’ble Chief Minister, necessary amendments were made in the Tamil Nadu District Municipalities Act, 1920, and also provisions made in the Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules 2019. As a result, rain water harvesting structures have been created throughout the State. This intensive programme had helped the ground water table to rise substantially and had led to better recharge of underground aquifers.

In accordance with Government policy, An action plan has been drawn by Urban Local Bodies for the Revival, Rehabilitation and Maintenance of Rain Water Harvesting structures. Out of 46.28 lakh buildings in Corporations (Except Chennai) and Municipalities, 41.56 lakh buildings (30505 Government buildings and 41.26 lakh private buildings) have been provided with RWH structures. Rain water harvesting in the water bodies vested with the ULBs have also been given major thrust. Out of 585 Ponds, 264 have been provided with RWH structures and action is being taken to provide RWH structures in the remaining ponds and temple tanks.The recharge potential due to the rain water harvested from buildings and water bodies is quite substantial.

Roads

Roads form the backbone of the Urban Infrastructure development. This Government endeavours to provide motorable roads that are designed and built for the primary use for vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The Corporations (except Chennai) and Municipalities maintain a total road length of 25010.60 Km of of which 5110.55 Km are of cement concrete roads,16675.74 Km are of black topped roads,221.19 Km are of WBM roads, 1904.52 Km are of Earthen roads and1098.61 Km are of other roads like cut stone pavement, paver block etc. The maintenance of roads, restoring and relaying the damaged roads due to implementation of Water Supply schemes, Under Ground sewerage schemes and Natural calamities have posed a major challenge to the ULBs.

Tamil Nadu Urban Road Infrastructure Programme [TURIP]

The Government puts much emphasis on improving roads damaged due to laying of sewer lines, water mains and also due to natural calamities, over a period of time and require restoration to full width to make it motorable. To this effect, the Government has announced an“Urban Road Infrastructure Programme”.
During the year 2020-21, under this programme, a sum of Rs.314.37 crore was sanctioned to take up 541.352 km length of road damaged due to the implementation of Under Ground Sewerage Schemes, Natural Calamities and Water Supply Improvement Schemes in 94 Municipalities and 9 Corporations which are in various stages of implementation. This programme will also be continued in the year 2021-2022.

Uniform Retro Reflective Road Signages

The Government have taken massive restoration and relaying of roads in the ULBs. In order to enhance the utility and usefulness of these roads to the commuters and tourists by giving proper signages, like names, cautions, tourist destination etc., a programme was taken up to provide uniform retro reflective road signages. So far, about 5363 single arrows, 945 double arrows, and 369 road fixtures were erected in the Corporations and Municipalities. This will be continued during 2013-14.

Smart Roads under Smart City

Under “Smart City Programme” smart roads have been implemented from 2018 in 10 Corporations, so far 44 works have been taken up at an estimate of Rs.1066.00 crores.

Under Ground Drainage Scheme

In order to keep up with the demands of rapid Urbanization the Government has decided, to implement Under Ground Sewerage Scheme in all the needy Urban Local Bodies, in a phased manner. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for 117 ULBs have been prepared and implementation is taken up by Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply Sewerage Board (CMWSSB), Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD) and ULBs in 58 towns, with financial assistance from the National River Conservation Programme (NRCP), TNUDP III, JnNURM, UIDSSMT, Kfw, IUDM, TNSUDP, AMRUT, ADB and Smart City. The status of implementation of these works is given below:-

Sewerage Schemes under Implementation

UGS schemes have been taken up for implementation in 22 Towns under the Tamil Nadu Urban Development Project-III at a total cost of Rs.1035.51 crore. Out of which, the UGSS in Udhagamandalam, Chinnamanur, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Perambalur, Dindigul (part), Thiruvannamalai, Kancheepuram, Ramanathapuram, Tiruvarur, Cuddalore, Theni-Allinagaram, Vellore, Nagapattinam (part), Pudukottai, Tiruvallur, Virudhunagar, Krishnagiri and Pallavapuram municipalities have been completed and put into use.
UGSS in 4 ULBs viz., Madurai and Coimbatore & Avadi corporations, Avadi and Tambaram Municipality were taken up under the Urban Infrastructure and Governance component of JnNURM at a total cost of Rs.925.49 crore and the works completed in Avadi Corporationthe works are at various stages of implementation in other ULBs.
UGSS in 10 towns viz., Maraimalai Nagar, Ariyalur, Arakkonam, Sattur, Chidambaram, Thirupathur, Periyakulam, Mettur, Nagerkoil and Udumalaipet were taken up under the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT) component of JnNURM at a total cost of Rs.575.86 crore, of which works in Arakkonam,, Ariyalur Maraimalai Nagar, Mettur, Udumalaipet,Periyakulam,Chidambaram and Tirupattur have been completed and put into use. The remaining projects are in advanced stages of implementation.
UGSS for Erode Corporation at a cost of Rs.209.09 crore, for Karaikudi Municipality at a cost of Rs.112.53 crore, Pollachi Municipality at a cost of Rs.109.62crore, Villupuram Municipality at a cost of Rs.49.36 crore and Mettupalayam Municipality at a cost of Rs.91.70 crore were taken up under German Development Fund (KfW). Erode and Villupuram UGSS has been completed and the process of effecting house service connections is in progress. Karaikudi, Pollachi and Mettupalayam UGSS are at various stages of implementation.
UGSS for Bodinayakkanur at a cost of Rs.71.10 crore, Ariyalur (left out area) at a cost of Rs.3.30 crore, Perambalur (left out area) at a cost of Rs.9.50 crore, Sathyamangalam at a cost of Rs.54.26 crore and Rasipuram at a cost of Rs.55.42 crore were taken under Integrated Urban Development Mission (IUDM). Bodinayakkanur, Ariyalur (left out area) and Perambalur (left out area) UGSS has been completed. Sathyamangalam and Rasipuram works have been completed and put into use.
UGSS for Pallavaram Municipality at a cost of Rs.22.00 crore, for Kumbakonam Municipality at a cost of Rs.59.84 crore, for Tiruchirapalli Corporation Phase – II at a cost of Rs.344.00 crore, Phase – III at a cost of Rs.312.14 crore, for Tirunelveli Corporation Phase – II at a cost of Rs.289.01 crore and Phase –III at a cost of Rs.440.19 crore, for Vellore Corporation Phase II at a cost of Rs.343.69 crore and Phase – III at a cost of Rs.293.77 crore, for Rameswaram Municipality at a cost of Rs.40.33 crore, for added areas in Coimbatore Corporation at a cost ofRs.442.00 crore, for Rajapalayam Municipality at a cost of Rs.246.99 crore and for Ambur Municipality at a cost of Rs.165.55 crore has been taken up with AMRUT and ADB financial assistance and are at various stages of implementation and completed in Pallavapuram Municipality under Smart City, 8 Nos.of Works taken up in Trichy,Madurai,Thanjavur.Thoothukudi,Erode and Salem at an estimate cost of Rs.1178.12 crores and the works are in various stage of implementation.
In order to avoid the usage of manual labour for the maintenance of sewerage networks, mechanical equipments such as Jet rodding machines, suction machines, desilting machines and robotic desilting machines have been procured and put into use in all Under Ground Sewerage System completed ULBs.
In order to achieve universal sewer connection to the citizens, this government has taken an initiative first of its kind in the country to effect Water & Sewer connections in the project itself as a component and the one time deposit and connection charges were linked with the property tax and collected in 10 instalments. Because of this all the urban local bodies will achieve 100% connectivity and the assets created will also be fully utilized.As on date 184759 number of HSCs effected in this scheme.

Septage Management

Partially treated sewage that is stored in a septic tank is commonly called as Septage. It includes liquids, solids (sludge), as well as fats, oils and grease (scum) that accumulate in septic tanks over a period of time. Septage management includes the process of design of Septic Tanks and collection, safe treatment and disposal of septage. A comprehensive program that regulates periodic septic tank cleaning, as well as septage transport, treatment, re-use and disposal is important in the context of our rapidly urbanizing economies.

Out of 15 Corporations (including Chennai), 121 Municipalities, 528 Town Panchayats and 12,525 Village Panchayats in the State, the UGSS is functioning in 12 Corporations (including chennai), 35 Municipalities and 3 Town Panchayats. Till the uncovered areas of ULBs are brought under UGSS there is a need for faecalseptage management for safe handling of the faecal sludge.

Need for Septage Management

Comprehensive guidelines have been issued by the Government vide G.O. (Ms) No. 106 MA&WS Department, dated: 01.09.2014 to regularize and monitor the handling of faecal sludge by co-treating in the existing STPs and creation of dedicated Faecal Sludge Treatment Plants (FSTPs). The guidelines contemplated the following initiatives:-

• Design and Construction of Septic Tanks
• Septic Tank Pumping & De-Sludging
• Septage Transportation
• Treatment & Septage Disposal
• Fees / Charges for Collection, Transportation and Treatment
• Information, Education and Communication
• Record-keeping and Reporting

A cluster approach has been adopted to ensure optimum utilisation of Sewage Treatment Plants. 41 Clusters have been identified and grouped in such a way that all collection points are situated approximately at a radius of 5-10 km from the designated Sewage Treatment Plants (STP), of which, 21 Clusters have been firmed up. Urban and Rural Local Bodies situated in and around these clusters are also decanting the faecal sludge in these Sewage Treatment Plants. Clustering of adjacent Urban and Rural Local Bodies in and around the balance STPs is being explored. Enumeration of existing Septic Tanks and establishment of decanting facilities in the functioning STPs are in progress. So far, in Corporations and Municipalities, Sewage is being collected from septic tanks, carried through lorries registered with ULBs are permitted to decant into nearby Sewage treatment plants and get treated there. 46 number of Faecal Sludge treatment plant has been sanctioned and the works are completed in 9 ULBs and others are in various stages of implementation.

 

Waste Water Reuse Policy

 

The policy for promotion of use of Treated Waste Water is prepared with a vision to maximise the collection & treatment of sewage generated and reuse of treated waste water on a sustainable basis, thereby reducing dependency on fresh water resources. Further, the policy promotes use of treated waste water as an economic resource. In this regard, Tamil Nadu Government has launched waste water reuse policy on December 2019. At present Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been executed between the ULB and the user agency for the re-use of secondary treated effluent water (STEW) which is given below:

S.No	Name of the ULB	Quantity (in MLD)	Usage/ Purpose
1	Nagapattinam	2	M/s KVK Power for cooling purpose
2	Dindugul	5	To maintain the TDS level of Tanners as well for Agro- forestry
3	Tirunelveli	24	Nanguneri SEZ for Industries
4	Perambalur	3	MRF Industrial use
5	Ramanathapuram	3	NTC Infra
6	Pollachi	11.5	Agricultural use by Farmer Association
7	Chinnamannur	3	Agricultural use
8	Karur	7	Agricultural use
9	Arakkonam	7	MRF Industrial use
10	Coimbatore	15	Agricultural use by Farmer Association