The water supply within corporation limits from Pillur dam will soon be regulated as the civic body has decided to set up a standby generator with a 500KV motor at a cost of 30lakh at Velliangadu treatment plant in the city.
But experts don't believe this would resolve the problem of irregular water supply as it would still get affected during power cuts.
While the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) officials asked the civic body to set up non-return valves and check for air locks, the Tamil Nadu Water and Drainage Board (TWAD) and civic body officials asked the Tangedco officials to stop power cuts.
Tangedco officials said the treatment plant and the dam were located inside the forest area and hence the lines from the substation were laid at a distance of over 22km.
"The lines pass through thick forest for a distance of 11km. We ensure that we clear the shrubs and overgrowths. But due to rainfall, animals or dried branches, power trips, causing power cuts. We immediately switch the transformer on again within a few minutes. But since the motors run at 375HP, it takes another hour for the motors to begin running in full capacity which leads to delay in the supply as well," said G M Sudhakar, superintending engineer, Tangedco.
Corporation officials said that apart from the drips, often they are uninformed about the power cuts which delays water supply.
"The problem has been especially severe in 20 wards," said city engineer Rajendiran.
All officials including the city mayor, P Rajkumar, visited the Pillur water supply scheme's treatment plant at Velliangadu. "After a discussion with all departments, the Tangedco officials said that they would ensure that there is just one power shut down for maintenance every month which would be notified in advance. A generator would also be set up by the civic body so that water supply is uninterrupted even during the shut down," said P Rajkumar.
But sources said that the generator would not be helpful as the motors would require a power of 2000KV at least. "A permanent solution would be to set up a substation near the pumping yard so that the power supply would be continuous," said an engineer.
The official also added that the civic body's treatment plant and the pipelines lacked the non-returning walls and air vents that would ensure that there are no air locks and pipe bursts.
But experts don't believe this would resolve the problem of irregular water supply as it would still get affected during power cuts.
While the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) officials asked the civic body to set up non-return valves and check for air locks, the Tamil Nadu Water and Drainage Board (TWAD) and civic body officials asked the Tangedco officials to stop power cuts.
Tangedco officials said the treatment plant and the dam were located inside the forest area and hence the lines from the substation were laid at a distance of over 22km.
"The lines pass through thick forest for a distance of 11km. We ensure that we clear the shrubs and overgrowths. But due to rainfall, animals or dried branches, power trips, causing power cuts. We immediately switch the transformer on again within a few minutes. But since the motors run at 375HP, it takes another hour for the motors to begin running in full capacity which leads to delay in the supply as well," said G M Sudhakar, superintending engineer, Tangedco.
Corporation officials said that apart from the drips, often they are uninformed about the power cuts which delays water supply.
"The problem has been especially severe in 20 wards," said city engineer Rajendiran.
All officials including the city mayor, P Rajkumar, visited the Pillur water supply scheme's treatment plant at Velliangadu. "After a discussion with all departments, the Tangedco officials said that they would ensure that there is just one power shut down for maintenance every month which would be notified in advance. A generator would also be set up by the civic body so that water supply is uninterrupted even during the shut down," said P Rajkumar.
But sources said that the generator would not be helpful as the motors would require a power of 2000KV at least. "A permanent solution would be to set up a substation near the pumping yard so that the power supply would be continuous," said an engineer.
The official also added that the civic body's treatment plant and the pipelines lacked the non-returning walls and air vents that would ensure that there are no air locks and pipe bursts.