KOCHI: As the city outskirts started getting water from the new source of Muvattupuzha river after partial commissioning of the Piravom project, the Kerala Water Authority could pump more water to the city areas.

On Thursday, the KWA augmented pumping time to the city by six to seven hours which helped tail-end places in the supply network like Vaduthala, Chittoor and Vennala getting uninterrupted, powerful flow of water.

According to KWA sources, pumping time and force can be augmented further if the Piravom scheme is functioning normally. Pumping to the central city areas has been increased by four hours.

“On Thursday, we could increase the pumping time to various parts of the city by four to seven hours,” said a top official at KWA. “Hence, water from the Aluva treatment plant reaches almost all parts of the city, including tail-end areas in distribution network.

The regular problem areas like Vennala, Chalikkavattom and Alinchuvadu have been getting uninterrupted water flow,” he said. As more water is being pumped to the Pachalam pump house, which caters to the nearby islands, water supply to areas like Kadamakkudy and Mulavukadu has been augmented. Areas like Pettah, South, Kochu Kadavanthra and Atlantis are also getting uninterrupted water supply.

After partial commissioning of Piravom project, the KWA stopped pumping water to the west Kochi areas from its Thammanam pump house on Tuesday, making 7 MLD water available for distribution in the corporation area. Once the supply network of the Piravom project is fully operational in a couple of months, the city will get an additional 20 MLD of water.