The Kerala Water Authority (KWA) has decided to conduct a safety audit of all water storage tanks within the Kochi Corporation limits. The move comes in the wake of a recent incident in Thammanam where a 1.35 million liter water tank burst, leading to disruption of water supply and extensive damage to nearby properties.
Currently, there are 14 water storage tanks within the limits of Kochi, which include both overhead and ground level tanks. While initial findings indicate that the collapse of the Thammanam storage tank was not due to structural damage, KWA is conducting a safety assessment as a precautionary measure following the accident.
“A thorough inspection and cleaning of all the storage tanks was done two months ago. We are currently carrying out this inspection after the accident,” KWA sources said.
Drinking water supply to 30% areas in the Corporation and surrounding local bodies has been affected after the side wall of one of the chambers of a two-chamber water tank collapsed.
The tank, which was commissioned in 1985, partially collapsed after the foundation sank into the soil. According to sources, there were no visible signs that the construction was facing problems. “There was no warning. The operators continued to check all storage tanks daily, but there were no visible cracks. We normally get warning signs like leaks and cracks, which were absent in this case. There could have been more issues at play besides the foundation sinking into the ground,” they said.
According to KWA sources, land subsidence and foundation sinking led to the partial collapse of the tank. “The storage tank in question has a peculiar design. But none of the other tanks are likely to face foundation problems as piling has been done,” sources said.
Published – 13 Nov 2025 01:44 IST
