The Tamilnadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD) was formed on 14-4-1971 from the erstwhile Public Health Engineering Department , Govt. of Tamilnadu with the sole aim to provide protected safe drinking water in adequate quantity and sanitation to the general public. Administered by senior level Government Executives as the Board of Directors, TWAD Board is vested with the responsibility of providing drinking water supply and sewerage facilities through out the state of Tamilnadu (TN) except Chennai Metropolitan area.

The Survey to access the water supply status of rural habitations was last conducted in 2001. Based on this and the coverage made in subsequent years, the status is as follows.

• Physical and bacteriological examination - Rs. 250/= (single test Rs. 25/=)

• Bacteriological examination - Rs. 250/= (single test Rs. 100/=)

• Sewage/Waste water testing - Rs. 600/= (single test Rs. 100/=)

• Water for construction purpose - Rs. 300/=

• Alum testing - Rs. 500/=

• Bleaching powder - Rs. 150/=

1. Physical examinations: Color, odor, turbidity, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, suspended solids.
   
2. Chemical examinations: pH, alkalinity, hardness, sodium, potassium, iron, manganese, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, chloride, fluoride, sulfate, phosphate, BOD, COD, TKN, oil & grease, aluminum, chromium, arsenic, free chlorine.
   
3. Bacteriological examination: Standard plate count, total coliform, fecal coliform, fecal streptococci.
   
4. Water for construction purposes: Fitness
   
5. Bleaching powder and alum: Quality analysis

Sampling Procedures

Sampling for Chemical examination

6. Water for chemical examination should be collected in a clean, white 2 liter polythene container.
   
7. The source from which water is collected should be in regular use. Otherwise the source should be adequately flushed before sampling. For hand pump sources, the water should be pumped and wasted for at least three to five minutes to clear all dirt, slime and turbidity. Water from wells should be taken in the middle at mid depth. For lakes, rivers and dams, the water should be collected near the off-take point.
   
8. Before collection of sample, the container should be washed with the water to be sampled for at least two or three times.
   
9. The water should be then filled completely in the container without leaving any air space.
   
10. Place the inner cap. Place a polythene sheet (10x10 cm) in between the inner and outer caps. Screw the outer cap. Place another polythene sheet of same size over the outer cap and tie the neck with a rubber band or twine thread.
    
11. Label the container with all required source particulars.
    
12. The sample should be delivered to the lab within 24 hours from the time of collection.

1. For bacteriological examination, the water should be collected only in a pre-sterilized 250 ml glass bottle which could be obtained from any of the laboratories.
   
2. The sample collection procedures will be explained in the laboratory when the sampling bottles are delivered to the customer.
   
3. The sample should reach the laboratory within 6 hours from the time of collection. However when preserved in an icebox, the sample can be delivered within 24 hours.
   
4. The sample should be labeled properly before it is dispatched.

For further technical details contact:

Chief Water Analyst,
TWAD Board,
No. 31, Kamarajar salai, Chepauk,
Chennai - 600 005
Ph: 8412098
E.mail: twadboard@vsnl.in

Assistant Water Analyst
Ganesh Nagar, Near Law College Student's Hostel, Melur Road,
Madurai - 625 007.

Madurai District has one Corporation, 3 Municipalities, 7 Urban Town Panchayats and 8 Rural Town Panchayats and 2267 Rural habitations in 431 Panchayats in 13 Unions. Madurai District has a population of 28 Lakhs approximately.

The total area of Madurai District is 3846 Sq.Km. Madurai District is sourrounded by Sivagangai District in East, Dindigul & Theni District in West Virudhunagar in South and Dindigul District in North.

Vaigai River is the important River flowing in this District which flows from West to East . River Kundar is the another river flowing in this District from South to West. All the major water supply schemes has been formulated with Vaigai River as source.

The terrain in Madurai District is formed of only by hard rock. The ground water level in this District varies according to the formation of rocks. In Usilampatty and Sedapatty union, the ground water level is 15 to 18m below ground level approximately . In other unions, the ground water level is below 6 to 9m below ground level. The ground water available in the District is potable almost in all areas except some places in Kallikudi & Kallupatty Union.

II) LOCAL BODIES

Madurai Corporation is the only corporation in Madurai District with a population of 12,81,000. The water supply to be provided to corporation is 95 mld per day. In this, 65mld of water has been drawn from River Vaigai directly. The balance 30 mld has been drawn from Melakkal, Kochadai, Manalur, Thiruppuvanam, Thatchampathu.

Underground drainage facilities have been provided and functioning in several parts of the city. Madurai Corporation area, on the southern side of river Vaigai has been divided into 15 blocks and 9 blocks have already been provided with sewerage facilities. For block 8 A, a sewerage scheme has been completed recently.

The three Municipalities in this District are Melur, Thirumangalam and Usilampatty. All the 3 Municipalities in this District have already been provided with protected water supply scheme.The population in 3 Municipalities are 33743, 43371 and 29599 respectively. Improvement schemes for Melur, Thirumangalam and Usilampatty are under execution .

Madurai District has 7 Urban Town Panchayats viz. Thirupparankundram, Avaniapuram, Paravai, Sholavandan, Alanganallur, Peraiyur, Harvipatty. In this for all Urban Town Panchayats, protected water supply has been provided. For Thirupparankundram Urban Town Panchayats,an improvement scheme with 5 Nos. of bore well sources has been completed during 2001-2002. Improvement schemes to Alanganallur Urban Town Panchayat, is under execution.

Madurai District has 8 Rural Town Panchayats namely Thirunagar, T. Kallupatty, A.Vellalapatti, Palamedu, Vadipatti, Elumalai, Vilangudi and Anaiyur. In this, 7 Rural Town Panchayats have already been provided with protected water supply schemes. For Thirunagar, and Palamedu RTP improvement schemes are under execution.

V) SCHEMES MAINTAINED BY TWAD

The following scheme is being maintained by TWAD Board .

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