Chennai Metrowater is planning to begin partial operations at the Minjur desalination plant by mid-August, aiming to produce a minimum of 10 million litres a day (mld) to augment water supply in north Chennai. The plant has remained defunct for several months.

Metrowater is carrying out a conditional assessment of the plant through Tamil Nadu Water Investment Company Limited. A detailed project report is also being prepared on the rehabilitation work required to restore the plant’s full capacity of 100 mld.

Officials of Metrowater said the partial operations would help boost water supply in areas falling under the Tiruvottiyur, Manali and Madhavaram zones and also identify functional gaps that need to be addressed for a permanent revamp of the facility.

Crucial restoration

Residents of north Chennai said reviving the plant is crucial to improve water supply. Recalling that daily water supply stopped two years ago, P.K.Thenkanal Isaimozhi of Manali New Town said, “We receive piped water supply on alternate days now and quality has improved after pipelines were replaced recently. The locality is fast developing with more apartments coming up. Additional volume of water supply will help resume daily water supply.”

Among the three desalination plants in the city, the facility in Minjur was the first to be established in 2010 through a bulk water purchase agreement with Chennai Water Desalination Limited, a consortium company of IVRCL Infrastructures Limited and Befesa, Spain. It catered to nearly 12 lakh residents of three zones.

However, there was a steady decline in production since 2023 and it ceased operations in November 2024 owing to internal issues of the company followed by contract termination.

Noting that several critical components of the plant were imported, officials said discussions were under way with original equipment manufacturers to assess the condition of various units. Some of the works, including the assessment of the condition of the seawater intake pipeline, which has become choked, required considerable time.

Once the DPR is completed in a few months, the water agency would have to finalise funding and implementation model — Public Private Partnership or Hybrid Annuity — before floating a tender for the complete revamp, officials said. As of now, water is being provided through alternative sources. The areas have a water demand of 40 mld.

To further strengthen water supply, work is in progress to lay a dedicated water transmission pipeline from the Red Hills treatment plant to the Madhavaram booster station to increase drinking water supply to three zones, officials added.