Objective for Capacity Augmentation and Renovation of the plant
The Water Treatment Plant at Uttarpara was commissioned as early as in the year 1937. The funding of the purification plant was made entirely by Late Raja Joth Kumar Mookherjee. The source of water for the Plant is the river Hooghly and the plant is located within 500 Metres from the river Hooghly Bank.
Water from the river Hooghly was initially pumped and stored in an open pond where with prolong storage, turbidity of the raw water got reduced. The raw water was then treated by coagulant (addition of Alum), flocculation, sedimentation and finally, through slow sand filtration. The filtered water was then disinfected by addition of bleaching powder solution and then, pumped into the overhead reservoir from where it was distributed to the different wards of the Municipality, serving around 40,000 - 45,000 population.
In the year 2001 there was an outbreak of infective Hepatitis in Ward Nos. 17 & 18 wherein, according to the Municipal Authorities, more than 100 people suffered from jaundice. Government of West Bengal formed a Committee with the Chief Engineer, Municipal Engineering Department, Govt. of West Bengal as the Chairman and representatives from AIIH&PH, Govt. of India, KMW&SA, Municipalities etc. as members. After detailed investigation, the Committee concluded that the source of contamination is from the malfunctioning of the Treatment Plant and suggested stoppage of operation of the Plant till it is renovated to meet the required standard of Municipal water supply. The present scheme for renovation and capacity augmentation of the Plant from its original capacity of 40-45 M3/HR (i.e. 2.0 lakh gallons/day) to 125 -140 M3/HR (i.e. 7.5 lakh gallons/day) as well as augmentation of the different components of the Plant to ensure production of safe water from the Plant to the community.
Salient Features of Uttarpara Water Treatment Plant
This project enhances the capacity of the old Uttarpara water treatment plant from 200,000 gallons per day to 750,000 gallons per day (an increase of 375%).
Use of the latest technology like tube settlers, floe module and stainless steel non clogging 'V wire under drain filtration system has ensured capacity augmentation by nearly four times within the limited space available.
The project ensures that a population of 40,000 - 45,000 under Ward nos. 17 & 18 of Uttarpara Municipality shall be benefited with supply of clean and safe drinking water.
The total cost of the project is Rs.48.00 (forty eight) lakhs out of which Uttarpara Municipality has contributed Rs. 12.00 (twelve) lakhs.
The implementation of the project started in the month of January 2006 and Supply from the augmented and renovated plant October 2006 on a trial basis with regular supply to be initiated from November 2006. The time taken for successful execution of the total project is nine months.
