Chennai Pushes Water Recycling as CM Vijay Inspects Koyambedu TTRO Plant

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Monday inspected the 45 million litres per day (MLD) Tertiary Treatment Reverse Osmosis (TTRO) plant at Koyambedu, reviewing its operations and the city’s broader wastewater management initiatives.

The Koyambedu facility, operated by the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB), is part of the state government’s efforts to strengthen long-term water security and promote a circular water economy in Chennai, according to an official release.

The CMWSSB currently manages the city’s sewage network through 438 pumping stations and 22 treatment plants. To further expand wastewater recycling, twin TTRO facilities, each with a capacity of 45 MLD, have been established at Koyambedu and Kodungaiyur. Together, the two plants can treat 90 MLD of wastewater every day.

The primary objective of the TTRO project is to convert secondary treated sewage into high-quality recycled water for industrial use. By supplying treated wastewater to manufacturing units, the initiative has helped reduce the industrial sector’s dependence on potable water, allowing freshwater resources to be prioritised for public consumption.

The use of recycled water has also been extended to the construction sector, ready-mix concrete (RMC) plants and concrete block manufacturing units, helping reduce pressure on groundwater resources.

The government said the initiative is aimed at conserving freshwater, reducing wastewater discharge into natural water bodies and improving Chennai’s climate resilience, while also providing industries with a reliable alternative water source to support sustainable growth.

Government Whip R Sabarinathan, Additional Chief Secretary (Municipal Administration and Water Supply) Gagan Deep Singh Bedi, CMWSSB Managing Director T Anand, Engineering Director U Parveez, and Chief Engineers A Radhakrishnan and K P Vaidehi accompanied the Chief Minister during the inspection.