Thiruvananthapuram’s urban water management system is preparing for a critical operational shift ahead of the monsoon season, as supply disruptions linked to global geopolitical tensions begin affecting essential treatment chemicals used at one of the capital region’s largest water purification facilities. The Kerala Water Authority is evaluating the replacement of aluminium sulphate, commonly known as alum, with polyaluminium chloride at the Aruvikkarai water treatment plant after procurement difficulties threatened the continuity of water treatment operations. The move comes at a sensitive time when rising monsoon inflows typically increase turbidity levels in reservoirs and intensify the need for chemical treatment to maintain potable water quality across the city.
Officials associated with the utility said disruptions in sulphuric acid availability, a key component in alum manufacturing, have affected the domestic supply chain in recent weeks. The uncertainty has forced authorities to explore alternative treatment methods to avoid stress on the city’s drinking water infrastructure during peak rainfall months. The Aruvikkarai facility serves as a major treatment hub for Thiruvananthapuram’s urban population, making uninterrupted operations vital for households, healthcare facilities, educational institutions and commercial establishments. Urban planners note that climate-linked weather variability is already placing additional pressure on water infrastructure systems in Indian cities, especially during periods of extreme rainfall and fluctuating reservoir conditions. The proposed transition to PACL is being assessed as a technical and operational adaptation rather than an emergency response. According to water treatment experts, PACL requires significantly lower dosage volumes compared to conventional alum while offering similar coagulation efficiency in treating muddy or sediment-heavy water. This could potentially reduce chemical storage requirements and operational handling challenges at treatment plants.
However, officials indicated that the shift will proceed only after laboratory testing and regulatory compliance checks are completed. Samples sourced from suppliers outside Kerala are expected to undergo third-party evaluation to verify treatment efficiency, dosage requirements and adherence to national drinking water standards before procurement decisions are finalised. The development also highlights the growing vulnerability of urban utilities to international supply chain disruptions. Infrastructure economists point out that essential civic systems such as drinking water treatment increasingly depend on imported industrial inputs and interlinked global manufacturing networks, making local resilience planning more important for Indian cities.
Water sector analysts believe the situation may prompt authorities to reassess procurement diversification, emergency chemical reserves and decentralised treatment strategies in the long term. As Kerala prepares for an active monsoon phase, maintaining reliable access to safe drinking water remains central to public health, urban productivity and climate resilience planning. For residents in the capital region, the coming weeks will test how effectively city utilities can balance operational continuity, public safety and infrastructure preparedness amid external economic and environmental uncertainties.
