The Coimbatore Corporation’s ₹646.71-crore 24x7 drinking water supply project is nearing completion, with 96% of the work finished. The remaining works are expected to be completed by August 2026.

The project is aimed at providing uninterrupted drinking water supply to 1.5 lakh household service connections (HSCs) across 105.6 sq. km covering the core areas of 58 wards in the city. Around one lakh household connections are already receiving continuous water supply under the project.

According to the project officials, the continuous pressurised distribution system has been designed to prevent contamination by ensuring that wastewater and other external impurities do not enter the pipelines. The entire system, from pumping water to overhead tanks to supplying households, is operated through an automated software-based system, reducing human intervention and operational errors.

The project includes the construction of 33 new overhead tanks in addition to the existing 34 tanks. Of these, 32 have already been commissioned. It also involves laying 73.64 km of feeder mains and 1,813.59 km of distribution pipelines. So far, 71.68 km of feeder mains and 1,759.43 km of distribution pipelines have been laid, leaving about 50 km of distribution mains to be completed.

Officials said obtaining permission to lay pipelines along stretches of State and National Highways has been one of the major challenges, resulting in delays. Restoration works on these roads can be carried out only during night hours, slowing the pace of execution.

Responding to complaints about pipeline leakages, the officials said most of them occur when pipelines are inadvertently damaged during excavation works undertaken by other departments or utility agencies, such as underground drainage and underground cable works. The Corporation has asked the public to report leakages by sending photographs through WhatsApp to 98650 60708 for prompt rectification.