In Pics | How Southern Railway Is Switching to Recycled Sewage Water for Daily Operations

Southern Railway is preparing to replace freshwater with treated sewage water for its daily operations in Chennai, marking a significant step toward sustainable water use amid growing pressure on the city’s drinking water resources.

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The railways plan to source 5–6 million litres per day (MLD) of treated water from the Langs Garden modular sewage treatment plant, which will be used for coach cleaning, track maintenance and other non-potable activities.

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Water supplied from the Langs Garden facility is purified using the reverse osmosis (RO) process, ensuring high-quality treated water suitable for large-scale operational use without relying on freshwater supplies.

Chennai Metrowater has already laid a dedicated pipeline from the Langs Garden plant to the Egmore railway yard, while Southern Railway is now laying internal pipelines to distribute treated water across its facilities.

Metrowater is also planning to set up filling points at the plant to supply treated water to the Greater Chennai Corporation for street washing, park irrigation and median gardening, though the civic body is yet to finalise its demand.

​Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL) is in talks with Metrowater to source treated sewage water from the plant for its own operational needs, signalling wider adoption of recycled water across major transport agencies.

Metrowater will upgrade the Kodungaiyur TTRO plant at an estimated cost of ₹2 crore, enabling full-scale production of 45 MLD. Along with the Koyambedu plant, this will help meet rising demand from railways, industries and SIPCOT units while conserving freshwater.