As mercury level soars, KWA puts curbs on new water connections

Kochi: With the scorching summer causing dams and other water sources to dry up, KWA authorities have instructed officials to stop giving new water connections to all sections, except domestic consumers. According to KWA, the utility is facing a serious crisis due to high consumption caused by soaring mercury levels. The situation has forced KWA to issue a circular asking chief engineers, superintending engineers and executive engineers to stop fresh connections as long as the weather conditions remain the same. As per a circular issued by the KWA management, special or casual connections, non-domestic connections and industrial connections should be kept in abeyance until the replenishment of the water sources. "The available water storage in major sources, including reservoirs serving both urban and rural water supply schemes, has declined significantly. In several key systems, the existing storage is estimated to sustain supply only for a limited period in respect of the current rate of consumption. Further, many minor sources are already nearing depletion. In the absence of adequate summer rainfall, and with no immediate indication of substantial precipitation as per the forecasts of IMD, the situation is likely to become more critical in the coming days," the KWA circular reads. "With access to safe drinking water being a fundamental necessity, it is imperative that the available resources are judiciously managed to ensure uninterrupted supply, in the larger interest of the public welfare. In this context, sanctioning of the following categories of new water connections shall be kept in abeyance with immediate effect," the circular adds. Top sources within KWA said that the circular was issued as a step to tide over the current situation. "Unlike in the previous years, the drought is a bit severe. So, we have no other option but to stop giving new water connections. At the same time, there is no restriction on giving new connections to domestic consumers," a top source with the KWA said. "However, we expect that there may be respite from the situation if the state receives good summer rainfall," he said.