Chennai Metro Water plans to automate filling stations to cut down on water wastage

 

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

In a bid to cut down wastages and ensure supply of quality water to 67.27 lakh people in and around Chennai City, Chennai Metro Water is planning for total automation of the water filling points located in 30 water distribution stations around the city.

 

Metro Water sources told Express that the board would provide total automation of filling points through computerized filling system where in it is ensured that all areas receive adequate quantity of water.

 

This will also this eliminate manual operation of valves and manual entry of all particulars and logs in the filling points, the sources said.

 

Interestingly, Kilapauk filling station is the first to get such facility. Talking about the features of the automated filling station, a Metro Water source said that the filling stations would be provided with pneumatically operated valves that are linked to a central cabin in the filling point.

 

The total control including switching it on and Off is vested with the filling point official and manual operation will be permitted only during emergency situation.

 

The filling station will have electromagnetic flow meters to ascertain the quantity of water filled in lorries through the filling points. The batch controller in the control cabin (filling point office) would regulate the pre-programmed quantity of water to be filled in the lorries.

 

Wireless controllers are provided to transfer the data for report generation, which can be assessed from any location through Web. Not only that gate pass and consumer authorization copies are also generated through computers as such eliminating manual entries besides minimizing the wastage of water. “This would ensure easy and effective monitoring of the timely delivery of water to public,” the source added.

 

The measure is also taken up as the tanker fleet of Metro Water grew to 3,894 to ensure supply of water. The filling points play a key role in water supply to far-flung areas. The whole operation is currently being done manually which put a huge strain on the manpower as well as delays supply of water.

 

Box:

--- Kilpauk is the oldest filling station in Chennai and has been functioning since 1914

--- It has seven filling units

--- It is being accessed by 42 lorries that make around 250 trips across city

--- The technology will ensure that a 9,000 litres tanker is filled within four minutes

 

Caption:

1.    Units of litres of waters being supplied from filling station to the tanker is being displayed

2. Electromagnetic flow meters to ascertain the quantity of water filled in lorries through the filling points
3. Kilpauk filling station is now fully automated