The Kochi water supply upgrade has officially begun with SUEZ securing a contract from the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) to overhaul the city’s water supply and distribution services. The project is part of the Kerala Urban Water Services Improvement Programme (KUWSIP), funded by the Asian Development Bank and the Government of Kerala.
Covering an area of 95 square kilometers and serving nearly 700,000 residents, the project focuses on providing a 24/7 pressurized water supply and cutting non-revenue water losses to 20%, in line with national benchmarks. This includes upgrading 146,500 service connections and replacing the aging distribution network.
SUEZ will deploy modern technologies such as remote meter reading for commercial and industrial users, real-time performance monitoring systems (RoPES), and SCADA systems to ensure efficient operations. The company will also handle daily operations, leak detection, repairs, and customer service, while KWA will manage billing and revenue collection.
Mr. Jeevan Babu K. IAS, Managing Director of KWA, stated:
“This initiative is a step toward securing 24/7 access to safe and reliable drinking water for the people of Kochi. It reflects our commitment to improving everyday life through better water services.”
Pierre Pauliac, Interim Co-CEO & Chief Operating Officer Water at SUEZ, added:
“We are proud to support Kochi’s transformation with innovative solutions to ensure reliable, high-quality water supply. This reflects our ongoing commitment in India.”
SUEZ’s involvement strengthens its five-decade-long presence in India and marks a significant move towards urban water sustainability in Kochi.