Water treatment plant at Taba expected to be complete by January

The construction of 10 MLD (millions liters per day) water treatment plant at Taba and construction of intake, transmission main line from Dodena to Taba with further trunk line and distribution reservoirs is expected to complete by January next year, according to Thimphu Thromde.

The project worth Nu 400 million funded by the World Bank is a part of Central Water Supply Scheme (CWSS) to improve urban infrastructure services in Northern Thimphu where no formal services are available and also to augment the existing water supply system.

The CWSS covers two packages, package one includes construction of intake, transmission main from Dodena to Taba, trunk lines, distribution reservoirs including care taker quarters at different locations and package two includes construction of 10 MLD water treatment plant at Taba.

Project Coordinator, Pekar Rabgay, said, “Though the construction of intake, transmission main line, trunk line and distribution reservoirs was expected to complete by October and construction of treatment plant by November, we were not able to do so and there are many reasons like, land issues, raw materials did not reach on time and shortage of laborers among others.”

He said, “Raw water from Dodena will be treated and supplied to four clear water reservoirs of 230,000 liters capacity each located at Taba, Pamtsho, Samteling and Langjophakha.”

Nakphel Drukpa from Water Supply Division said, “The new water treatment plant will cater to 100,000 people at Taba, Jungshina-Pamtsho, Hejo –Samteling, Langjophakha Yangchenphug and Changjiji Housing Colony. Further, it is also expected to augment the existing water supply shortages for the urban core area, especially in the Norzin lam area.”

He said, “With the completion of 10 MLD water treatment plant at Taba, areas like, Motithang, Changzamtog, Jungshina and Changjiji will not have any water problems.  The water treatment plant at Taba will cater to Langjophakha, Dzong areas, core areas, Yangchenphug, Changjiji and Lungtenphu. Water source at Dodena is large and would not dry during dry seasons.” At present, Thimphu Thromde has four major water treatment plants at Dechencholing, Motithang, and Jungshina.

In addition, two boreholes at Changzamtog and Changjiji cater to the area and finally Chamgang treatment plant with a flow of 5000-6500 cubic meters per day provide water to Southern LAPS which includes Olakha, Babesa, Simtokha, Lungtenphu and Changbangdhu.

Thimphu Thrompon, Kinlay Dorjee, said, “In the 12th Five Year Plan, Thromde may have few water treatment plants in Samteling, Ngagiphu and Chamgang to make Thimphu’s water supply more reliable. If we are to provide 24 hours water supply, we need to have additional water treatment plants in three locations.”