The Department of Drinking Water (DDW) in Goa is considering an upgrade to the existing 40 million litres per day (MLD) water treatment plant at Opa, aiming to increase its capacity to 60 MLD. This initiative, requiring an investment of Rs 29 crore, is intended to enhance water supply to Tiswadi, Marcaim, and Priol through the addition of new facilities.
Project Status and Objectives
Technical sanction for the proposed upgradation has already been granted, and the project is currently awaiting administrative approval, according to Vishwambar Bhende, Chief Engineer of the DDW. The primary goal of the project is to boost water supply to Panaji. Once operational, the water supply to the entire Tiswadi taluka, as well as Marcaim, Priol, and surrounding villages in Ponda taluka, will be significantly improved, Bhende stated.
Recent Completed Works at Opa
The DDW recently completed a project at Opa to augment water supply to Panaji. This project included the construction of intake wells, an additional pump house equipped with six centrifugal pumps each capable of drawing 20 MLD of water, a 1,500 cubic metre (CuM) sump, a 300 CuM ground level reservoir (GLR), and two master balancing reservoirs of 2,500 litres each located on the Curti hill.
Proposed Upgradation Details
Under the proposed upgrade, the DDW plans to construct an additional flocculator, an aerator, a chlorination tank, a chlorine room, and four filter beds. Notably, the smart city pumping station will be utilised for the upgraded project, as it is already connected to the existing 40 MLD water treatment plant, Bhende explained.
Integration with Existing Infrastructure
The new project will be integrated with the current 40 MLD water treatment plant, which features three vertical turbine (VT) pumps of 875 kW and 1200 HP capacity. However, these pumps cannot be repaired at Opa. The new pump house contains six centrifugal pumps, each with a capacity to draw 20 MLD of water. The 300 CuM GLR will serve as a priming tank, providing water needed for restarting the pumps.
