Kochi's Sewage Woes Get Upgrade: ₹185 Crore Project Underway

Kochi's sanitation infrastructure is set to receive a major upgrade with a new sewerage treatment project. The Kerala Water Authority (KWA) is spearheading the initiative, which includes laying a 27-km sewage pipeline across several city wards and retendering for a 5-MLD sewage treatment plant (STP) and an additional 17-km pipeline. This ₹185 crore project, designed for a 30-year lifespan, aims to drastically improve Kochi's current sewerage coverage, which meets only 5% of the demand.

The project is crucial for combating severe environmental pollution caused by untreated sewage being dumped into local canals. This practice contaminates waterways, leading to algae growth and public health concerns. The new STP will employ advanced primary, secondary, and tertiary treatment technologies, including the compact Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) system, to effectively process sewage. The entire initiative is projected to be completed within two years.