Chapter - VI Infrastructure
Chapter - VI Infrastructure in the Chennai Metropolitan Area master plan explains the water supply, sanitation and sewerage situation across the Chennai Metropolitan Area, using data from the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board and the Commissioner of Municipal Administration. It shows that Chennai city is much better served than many surrounding municipalities, identifies current water sources and sewage treatment capacity, and says the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board should extend services more widely across the metropolitan area.
What this chapter covers
Chapter - VI Infrastructure is a planning chapter about water supply, sanitation and sewerage in the Chennai Metropolitan Area. It says these services are basic for economic development and public health, and that they need integrated planning across Chennai city, municipal towns, growing urban local bodies and areas that will become urbanised.
What it says about current service levels
The chapter says Chennai city is better served than the rest of the Chennai Metropolitan Area.
Key points given in the chapter are:
- Chennai City had maximum water availability of 645 million litres per day in 2007.
- Chennai City had per capita supply of 107 lpcd.
- Chennai City had 99 percent sewered area.
- Chennai City treated 486 million litres per day of effluent in 2007.
- Thiruvottiyur, Madhavaram, Pallavaram and Ambattur are shown as having much lower water availability.
- For these selected municipal towns, the table records no underground drainage in whole or part, and no treatment plant.
The chapter also says poorer sections receive much less service. It states that more than 90 percent of slum households receive water from metro tankers, that sewer connected toilets cover only 77.5 percent of slum households, and that less than 30 percent of slum households have individual latrine facilities.
Water quality, sources and treatment capacity
The chapter gives a small set of water quality indicators for water supplied by the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board in Chennai city:
- Turbidity at consumer end is 5, against a WHO standard of 10 max.
- Colour is recorded as colourless, against a WHO standard of 25 max.
- Total dissolved solids are 370 mg per litre, against a WHO standard of 2000 max.
The chapter says Metro water draws supply from lakes, tanks, groundwater, Krishna Water, Veeranam and proposed desalination. The table gives a grand total of 1635 Mld and also records 6970 public Mark II hand pumps.
For sewerage, the chapter says the total treatment capacity of the macro system units is 481 MLD per day, against estimated sewage generation of at least 700 MLD.
Who is responsible and who may be affected
The chapter says the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board is responsible for protected water supply and sewerage facilities over the whole Chennai Metropolitan Area of 1189 sq.km., but that its present activities are mainly within Chennai city and a small adjoining area. It also says Government has directed the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board to be the nodal agency for execution and maintenance of underground sewerage schemes in adjacent and distant urban areas within the Chennai Metropolitan Area.
People in outer municipalities, town panchayats and village panchayats may be affected because proposals for underground sewerage systems have been formulated for several places, and because the chapter calls for wider metropolitan coverage. Property owners are also directly affected because the chapter says owners are responsible for cleaning septic tanks, and that septic tank overflows are common in extended areas.
This summary is generated from the source document to help you find what is relevant. The PDF above is authoritative. For advice on your own property, use LandLens One or speak to a qualified professional.
Common questions
Does this chapter say Chennai city and the surrounding towns have the same level of water and sewerage service?
No. The chapter says Chennai city is better served, while many surrounding municipalities have much lower water availability and in some cases no underground drainage and no treatment plant.
Who does the chapter say is responsible for water supply and sewerage across the Chennai Metropolitan Area?
The chapter says the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board is responsible for supply of protected water and provision of sewerage facilities over the whole Chennai Metropolitan Area. It also says local bodies, municipalities and town and village panchayats are principal public sector stakeholders in the rest of the area.
Does the chapter mention any plans for new sewerage systems outside Chennai city?
Yes. The chapter says proposals have been formulated for underground sewerage systems in Pallavaram, Tambaram, Madhavaram, Kathivakkam, Porur, Ullagaram, Puzhithivakkam, Avadi, Maduravoyal and Thiruvottiyur, and that an underground sewerage system is also proposed along the IT Corridor on Rajiv Gandhi Salai (OMR).
If my property uses a septic tank, does the chapter say anything relevant to me?
Yes. The chapter says owners of properties are responsible for cleaning septic tanks. It also notes that septic tank water overflows are common in the extended areas.
