Fraser, a civil engineer who visited Madras, forwarded a proposal to the government to tap the Kortalayar river which is situated about 160 km northwest of Chennai and it was accepted.
In early 1890, surface drains in the city were connected to Pumping Stations and the wastewater conveyed for disposal away from inhabitation.
The proposal for this scheme to cater to the needs of a topographically flat, fast growing city was formulated in 1907 and works were initiated in 1910 and completed during 1914 in stages.
The system originally consisted of a network of force mains and brick gravity sewers served by 3 Pumping Stations at Royapuram, Purasaiwalkam and Napier Park and ultimately discharging wastewater into the sea at Kasimedu on the Northeastern boundary of the city.
The implementation of these schemes commenced in 1961 and had undergone modifications periodically commensurate with the system requirements of an expanding City and the growing population.
These zones of macro systems covering the entire City had independent zonal collections, conveyance, treatment and disposal facilities.
[4] Therefore, considerable amount of efforts were made by the government to ensure the administration and development of a proper wastewater system in Chennai.
This lake receives water from Cauvery River system through Kollidam, Lower Anicut and Vadavar Canal besides rainwater from its own catchment area.
to Break Pressure Tank at Kadampuliyur through a 1750 mm dia mild steel pipe and from there the water is carried to a distance of about 200 km.
Minjur desalination plant which supplies 100 million litres a day water to Chennai city was inaugurated on 31 July 2010.
Any surplus of sewage in excess of pumping stations capacity was drained into the nearby natural water courses of the city viz.
The following are the Sewage Treatment Plants of CMWSSB as of February 2016 1)Kodungaiyur 270mld (110+80+80), 2)Villivakkam 5mld 3)Koyambedu 214mld (34+60+120)4)Nesapakkam 117mld (23+40+54) and 5)Perungudi including Alandur and considering BOD and SS load 163mld {79 (instead of installed 54)+72 (instead of installed 60)+12)totalling to 769 mld (million litres per day) in 13 units of which 535mld is powered by Biogas (produced during the Sewage Treatment) engines.
( Reference: Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department of Government of Tamil Nadu Policy Note 2015–2016, page 223).
While issuing Planning Permission for construction of major developments such as flats, residential developments, office, shopping and other commercial complexes, the condition to provide rain water-harvesting structures within the premises was put and ensured to be provided before issue of Completion Certificates.
The water quality in Chennai is a long way to reach International standards as outlined in this study published in April 2007.
There are also proposals to construct sewage treatment plants in Mangadu and Villivakkam as part of the plans to build new infrastructure for the newly merged areas.
CMWSS Board has adopted Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) which leads to savings in energy cost to a turn of Rs.43.05 lakhs per month.