In a significant move to address persistent complaints about water quality, the Trichy Corporation has launched a technologically advanced monitoring system for its drinking water supply. The initiative combines 75 new portable testing kits with an artificial intelligence-backed verification mechanism to ensure proper chlorination and prevent contamination.
How the New AI-Powered System Works
Under the revamped protocol, health workers and officials will now conduct random chlorination tests at various points across the city's water supply network. After collecting samples, they will upload photographs of these samples to a dedicated online dashboard managed by the State Directorate of Public Health (DPH). Here, an AI tool springs into action, analysing the images to independently verify and corroborate the chlorination levels recorded manually.
This upgrade addresses critical flaws in the old process. Officials stated that the earlier testing kits were not only cumbersome to use but also prone to delivering inaccurate readings. The newly procured portable kits, costing ₹89,000, use orthotolidine (OT) solution and feature 10 calibrated chlorination levels, enabling faster and far more reliable on-the-spot testing.
Safeguarding a Massive Water Supply Network
The scale of the operation is vast. The Trichy Corporation supplies approximately 156 million litres per day (MLD) of drinking water, sourced from nine collector wells on the Cauvery and Kollidam rivers. While initial gas-chlorination happens at common sumps, a crucial secondary chlorination process is required at 129 overhead water tanks (OHTs) scattered across the city before distribution to households.
This secondary chlorination is carried out early each morning, prior to the daily water supply. Officials now test one OHT and one downstream supply location daily on a rotational basis, covering three to five tanks each. Special attention is given to consumer points located far from the tanks, often the tail-end areas where chlorine depletion is a risk.
Swift Action on Contamination Risks
The system is designed for rapid response. Any sample showing inadequately low chlorination levels is immediately escalated to senior officers. Engineering teams are then alerted to inspect the network for potential issues like pipeline seepage or other faults that could cause chlorine to deplete before water reaches consumers.
The AI tool acts as a robust second layer of validation, predicting chlorination levels from the uploaded images to cross-check the manual readings. City Health Officer Dr. Subash Gandhi emphasized that this integrated approach will help ensure adequate chlorination from the overhead tanks all the way to the tail-end supply areas, effectively preventing contamination concerns.
The corporation plans to cover all 129 overhead water tanks through these intensified, random checks. This tech-driven public health intervention marks a proactive step by the Trichy Corporation to leverage innovation for guaranteeing safe drinking water to its residents.
