The Water Corporation of Odisha (WATCO) has achieved complete household water supply coverage across all 29 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), marking a major milestone in urban service delivery.
The progress and upcoming plans were reviewed in a high-level meeting chaired by Housing & Urban Development Minister Dr Krushna Chandra Mahapatra.
As of March 2026, WATCO manages 7,63,082 household connections serving over 4.91 million people. The flagship “Drink from Tap” initiative now provides 24×7 potable water in 11 ULBs, with expansion underway in 17 more cities and planning for Konark in progress.
WATCO’s water supply capacity has reached 988.89 MLD, surpassing the current urban demand of 700.67 MLD. The corporation utilised its entire ₹912 crore budget for 2025–26, including ₹500 crore under AMRUT, OMBADC, and other funds to strengthen water and sewerage infrastructure.
For 2026–27, WATCO has proposed an expenditure plan of ₹920 crore, with ₹250 crore dedicated to sewerage capital assets. The corporation commissioned three new Water Treatment Plants and 58 Elevated Service Reservoirs last year, reinforcing urban water distribution systems.
Major projects worth ₹2,658.47 crore are underway, including the 130 MLD Water Treatment Plant for Bhubaneswar and sewerage expansion across slum and non-slum areas. WATCO is also installing 50,000 smart water meters in five pilot cities to improve billing and resource management.
Upcoming projects valued at ₹6,129 crore include sewerage systems for Sambalpur and Baripada. WATCO operates 14 third-party water testing labs and collaborates with IIT Bhubaneswar for advanced water quality monitoring.
