Will apply epoxy coating on water pipelines to prevent leakage, bursts: BMC

Mumbai receives its water supply from seven lakes on the outskirts of the city in satellite districts of Thane, Palghar, and Nashik. Water is supplied from these lakes to different reservoirs and filtration plants, from where it gets channeled to residential units and commercial establishments.

According to BMC officials, these pipes pass through creeks and forests due to which the exterior surface is prone to get corroded.

“Creeks and adjoining forest areas are filled with silt, and due to change in temperature, often hampers the exterior of pipes, resulting in corrosion. Since a large network of these pipes are outside Mumbai, regular maintenance is also not possible. So, the coating will form a protective layer and prevent leakage,” said a BMC official.

BMC also said that epoxy coating would be initially implemented on a 28-km stretch of several pipelines, following which, it would be extended to wider networks. Officials maintained that the coating needs to be renewed once every five years.

It is pertinent to note that a pipeline burst in Andheri (West) last week led to disruptions in water supply in several locations around Lokhandwala and Juhu for nearly 10 hours.