Earlier we drank salty well water, now clean water comes to our homes: Lakshadweep resident tells Minister during LTTD plant visit
Earlier we drank salty well water, now clean water comes to our homes: Lakshadweep resident tells Minister during LTTD plant visit
Earlier we used to drink salty well water. Now everyone in our area is using desalinated water for drinking,” said Abdul Rehman, a resident of Kavaratti, while interacting with Union Minister for Earth Sciences and Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh during his visit to the Low Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD) plant in the island on Friday.
Rehman was among several local residents who shared their experiences with the Minister as he reviewed the functioning of desalination facilities established by the Ministry of Earth Sciences across the Lakshadweep archipelago to address drinking water shortages.
During the interaction, residents described how access to desalinated water has eased a long-standing challenge in the island territory, where groundwater is limited and often saline due to the proximity of the sea. Rehman recalled that households earlier depended on small wells near their homes, but the water was often salty and not always suitable for drinking. With the desalination plants now operationnal, he said, clean drinking water has become readily available through taps.
Another resident, Valiya B, told the Minister that fetching water used to be a daily task that involved carrying it from wells to homes several times a day. “Earlier we had to bring water from the well and carry it home. Now the water is available at our doorstep,” he said.
Officials accompanying the Minister explained that the LTTD technology converts seawater into potable water by utilising the temperature difference between warm surface seawater and cold deep-sea water. The plants have been set up in multiple islands of Lakshadweep to provide a sustainable source of drinking water for local communities.
Speaking during the visit, Singh said the desalination initiative, which began in Kavaratti, has gradually expanded to several other islands in the territory. He also reviewed progress of the upcoming Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) project, which is expected to generate clean electricity while simultaneously producing fresh water.
The Minister said such technologies are particularly suited for island regions where freshwater sources are scarce but seawater is abundant. He noted that the projects could also reduce dependence on diesel-based supplies that are often affected by logistical challenges during the monsoon.
Lakshadweep has long faced difficulties in securing reliable drinking water because of limited freshwater reserves, salinity intrusion and heavy dependence on rainfall. Officials said the desalination facilities are expected to play a key role in ensuring a stable and sustainable supply of potable water for the island population in the years ahead.
