Ponda Water Disrupted Again as Pipeline Bursts After Power Surges
Water supply to Tiswadi and Ponda talukas in Goa was disrupted yet again on Saturday following the rupture of a major pipeline at the Opa Water Works. This marks the second such incident in under a month, caused by repeated power surges that weakened the system. Though emergency welding was completed by afternoon, residents—especially in Panaji and elevated areas—may not receive normal water supply until Sunday, highlighting vulnerabilities in the region’s water infrastructure.
The latest pipeline rupture occurred in the early hours of Saturday after repeated power outages on Friday destabilised the pressure within the system. The 750mm rising main pipeline, which supplies untreated water from the pumping station to the 40 million litres per day (MLD) treatment plant at Opa Water Works, burst shortly after midnight. Experts explained that sudden electricity failures trigger what is known as a hydraulic surge—an intense backflow pressure that can cause pipelines to tear near the joints. This is the second rupture of the same pipeline since June 26, underscoring recurring infrastructure strain. Water supply was promptly shut off once the damage was discovered around 1am. The rupture left hundreds of households in Tiswadi and Ponda without access to potable water for several hours. Authorities undertook immediate repairs, but the process involved draining the pipeline and welding, further delaying water restoration to the network of storage reservoirs.
Although the water supply was released by Saturday afternoon following urgent repair works, officials noted that normal service may not resume in high-altitude areas until Sunday. Suburban zones in Panaji, in particular, are expected to experience longer delays due to the time required to refill and balance pressure in the distribution network. The repeated failures have exposed weaknesses in the water infrastructure’s resilience to power fluctuations. Engineers at the site indicated that power supply instability directly impacts the functioning of raw water pipelines feeding the treatment plant, creating surge events that the current design is ill-equipped to handle. Despite being a lifeline for large segments of North Goa, including industrial and residential zones, the Opa Water Works system continues to operate under pressure—literally and figuratively. With no interim solution for surge protection in place, there’s growing concern that repeated disruptions could become a more frequent reality without system upgrades.
The second pipeline rupture at Opa Water Works within a month raises serious concerns about the durability of Goa’s core water infrastructure. As population demands rise and climate-linked energy instabilities increase, the interdependence of power and water systems has become more evident—and more fragile. Unless surge protection systems and pressure-balancing mechanisms are urgently introduced, future breakdowns may leave wider regions without access to safe water. For residents of Ponda and Tiswadi, the repeated disruptions reflect a deeper need for systemic upgrades in both water delivery and energy reliability to ensure sustainable urban living.
