Drinking water scarcity worsens in Poonithura after tank collapse

Residents of many localities in Poonithura have been facing an acute drinking water crisis ever since the Thammanam water storage tank burst.

Although the area had already been experiencing water shortages due to its position at the tail end of the supply network, the tank burst has worsened the situation, leaving even more regions severely affected, residents allege.

The regions affected include Ayyankali Road, Jawahar Road, Subrahmanya Temple Road, and Mukkottil Temple Road in Poonithura. Pumping to these regions is done from the Thammanam water storage tank. “Ever since the tank burst, water shortage worsened further, and more areas got affected. Along with the southern part of Poonithura, the northern regions too have been affected,” said Sankaranarayanan K.S., secretary, Mukkottil Temple Road Residents Association.

Water supply was hit after the sidewall of one of the chambers of the twin-chambered water storage tank of the Kerala Water Authority at Thammanam collapsed. Water is at present being brought in tankers to address shortage. “But not everyone can rely on collecting water from tankers as per their timings. Most households have elderly and sick people at home during the day,” he added. 

According to KWA sources, water scarcity, which is usually experienced at the tail ends, worsened after the tank burst as supply was cut for three days. A permanent solution to water shortage is replacement of old pipes with a bigger pipe which can bring more water, said KWA authorities.

“Right now, we are trying to remove air valve blockages in the pipes. This will be done in pipelines along bylanes in these regions in two days time, and once the trapped air is removed, supply would be restored like how it was. But these are only short-term solutions, and the long-term one is replacement of old pipes at Petta Junction with those with bigger diametre,” the sources added.