Kochi: The Kerala Water Authority (KWA) has awarded an important contract to global utility firm SUEZ for the upgrade, operation, and maintenance of Kochi City’s water supply system.
The project, part of the Kerala Urban Water Services Improvement Programme (KUWSIP), is jointly funded by the Asian Development Bank and the Government of Kerala. The initiative aims to significantly enhance water production and distribution across Kochi, which spans an area of approximately 95 square kilometers and serves nearly 700,000 residents. The project’s scope includes 146,500 service connections and the replacement of the aging water distribution infrastructure. A key objective is to provide a continuous 24/7 pressurized water supply while reducing Non-Revenue Water (NRW) losses to 20%, in line with national benchmarks.
As part of the contract, SUEZ will deploy advanced technologies such as remote meter reading for industrial and commercial consumers, a real-time operational performance monitoring system (RoPES), and SCADA systems to optimize system performance. The company’s responsibilities will include daily operations, preventive and corrective maintenance, leak detection and repair, and customer service. KWA will retain responsibility for meter reading, billing, and revenue collection, ensuring a shared approach to efficient service delivery.
The KWA stated that the initiative represents a step forward in securing safe and reliable 24/7 drinking water access for Kochi residents and underlines the state’s commitment to enhancing everyday life through improved water services.
