Kolathur residents flag recurring issues with drinking water supply

Damage to a pipeline on First Main Road in Poompuhar Nagar led to disruption in supply.

| Photo Credit: B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM

Residents of Kolathur have complained of recurring issues in drinking water supply, raising concerns over quality of water distributed in the locality.Residents of various parts of Kolathur, particularly wards 64 and 65, said they were receiving foul-smelling drinking water for a few days.The issue resurfaced shortly after Chennai Metrowater resumed water supply following repairs to leaks in a major pipeline distributing water from Puzhal water treatment plant.People of areas such as G.K.M. Colony, V.V. Nagar, Jayaram Nagar, and Poompuhar Nagar noted that sewage continues to mix with drinking water in some areas and urged authorities to take permanent measures to ensure safe water supply.S. Venugopal, a resident of V.V. Nagar, said water supply was resumed for a week now after the major burst in the pipeline. However, the problem recurred after water lines were damaged for power cable works on First Main Road, Poompuhar Nagar. “We are now using groundwater and packaged drinking water to manage our needs. The authorities must flush the pipelines periodically to avoid such pollution or foul order in drinking water,” he said.Water with odourWhile some parts of Poompuhar Nagar have started receiving drinking water supply, residents of 15, 16, and 17 streets complain of receiving water with odour. Though old water lines are being replaced across Kolathur, the problem continued, residents said.C. Thenmozhi of GKM Colony noted that her street received discoloured water with a mild stench for the past four days. “We have stopped using water from sump and rely on groundwater,” she said.Responding to residents’ complaints, Metrowater officials said the pipelines had become dry following disruption in water supply owing to damages caused to the line. Water supply has been restored. Pipelines are being flushed, and water pressure is being adjusted to address the complaints. Published - June 04, 2026 05:00 am IST