SUEZ Secures Major Contract To Provide Water In Salem India

Suez has distinguished itself from global competitors by securing a major contract with the Salem City Municipal Corporation to manage the city’s water supply for the next decade. While many providers offer standard municipal water management, Suez’s selection for this project—the largest of its kind in India — highlights the company's ability to integrate high-efficiency filtration technology with long-term operational reliability. The project is designed to provide 24/7 pressurized drinking water to over one million residents, a feat made possible by the company’s specific technical advantages in managing complex urban infrastructures.

Technical Superiority in Water Treatment
The core differentiator in this project is the implementation of Suez’s proprietary Aquazur V technology. Unlike conventional filtration systems used by many regional competitors, the Aquazur V system is engineered for high-rate filtration that maintains water quality even during significant fluctuations in raw water turbidity. This technology allows for a more compact footprint and lower chemical consumption, making it a more sustainable and cost-effective solution for large-scale urban centers. By deploying this specific filtration method, Suez ensures that the Salem plant can treat 185 million liters of water per day with consistent purity standards that meet stringent international requirements.

Comprehensive Infrastructure Modernization
Beyond simple water treatment, Suez’s approach involves a holistic overhaul of the existing distribution network, which sets its service model apart from firms focusing solely on plant operations. The contract includes the rehabilitation and expansion of a 1,600-kilometer water pipe network and the installation of 200,000 smart meters. This integration of physical infrastructure with digital monitoring tools allows for "Smart Water" management, significantly reducing non-revenue water — the water lost through leaks or unauthorized usage. By minimizing these losses, Suez provides a level of resource efficiency that is often unattainable through traditional management contracts.

Long-term Operational Stability
The ten-year duration of the contract reflects a shift toward long-term performance-based partnerships in the Indian water sector. Suez’s responsibility extends from the intake of raw water at the Mettur Dam to the final delivery at the household level, including the management of 33 existing service reservoirs and the construction of 31 new ones. This end-to-end accountability ensures that the technological benefits of the Aquazur V system are not lost in distribution. The project serves as a benchmark for how integrated technology and operational expertise can solve the chronic water scarcity and intermittent supply issues faced by rapidly growing metropolitan areas.

www.suez.com

Gerald Nicholas