VA TECH WABAG, a global water technology company headquartered in India, has been awarded a major Public-Private Partnership (PPP) contract by the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) for the refurbishment and long-term operation of a 45 million litres per day (MLD) Tertiary Treatment Reverse Osmosis (TTRO) plant located at Kodungaiyur in Chennai. The project will be executed under a Refurbish, Finance, Operate, Maintain and Transfer (RFOMT) model. Under this arrangement, WABAG will upgrade the existing facility and subsequently manage its operations over an extended period.
The Kodungaiyur TTRO plant, originally commissioned in 2019 by CMWSSB, was developed to treat municipal wastewater and supply high-quality recycled water to industries operating in the Manali–Ennore and Manali–Minjur industrial corridors of Chennai. These industrial zones rely on treated water supplies to reduce pressure on freshwater resources.
As part of the new agreement, WABAG will carry out refurbishment and technological improvements to restore the plant’s full treatment capacity of 45 MLD. The upgrade phase is expected to be completed within 18 months.
Following the refurbishment, WABAG will operate and maintain the plant for 18.5 years, ensuring that treated water meets defined quality and supply standards established in the contract. The project adds to WABAG’s growing portfolio of water recycling infrastructure in India. The company is already responsible for operating another 45 MLD TTRO facility in Koyambedu, Chennai. That plant was designed, built and commissioned by WABAG and currently supplies treated recycled water to industrial users.
Beyond Chennai, WABAG also manages a 40 MLD TTRO facility in Ghaziabad, which provides treated wastewater to industries located in the Sahibabad Industrial Area. Developed under a PPP framework, the Ghaziabad plant is another example of how water reuse can support industrial growth while conserving freshwater resources. The Kodungaiyur project further strengthens WABAG’s position in advanced wastewater recycling technologies and reflects the increasing importance of circular water management in urban infrastructure planning.
Commenting on the contract award, S Varadarajan, Whole Time Director and Chief Growth Officer at WABAG, expressed appreciation for the continued partnership with the Chennai water utility. “We are pleased to receive this important recycle and reuse project from CMWSSB,” he said. “Their continued trust in our technological capabilities and execution experience is deeply valued. Projects like this play an important role in expanding water recycling infrastructure and strengthening sustainable water management for industrial development.”
Mr Varadarajan added that water reuse initiatives are becoming increasingly vital for cities facing growing demand for industrial and municipal water supplies. With more than a century of experience in water technology, WABAG has established itself as a global provider of solutions for municipal and industrial water management. The company delivers services across the entire lifecycle of water infrastructure, including design, engineering, construction, commissioning and long-term operation.
WABAG currently operates in more than 25 countries and employs over 2,000 professionals specializing in water and wastewater technologies. Over the past three decades, the company has designed and constructed more than 1,500 treatment plants worldwide, serving both public utilities and industrial clients.
Innovation continues to be a central focus for the company. WABAG operates research and development centres in Europe and India, and its technology portfolio includes more than 125 intellectual property rights. Through projects such as the Kodungaiyur TTRO plant, WABAG aims to support sustainable urban development by promoting water conservation, recycling and efficient resource utilization, in line with global environmental and sustainability goals.
