Kerla Water Authority

What Kerla Water Authority does

Kerala Water Authority (KWA) is a statutory autonomous body established on 1 April 1984 under the Kerala Water and Waste Water Ordinance, 1984, and reconstituted under the Kerala Water Supply and Sewerage Act, 1986, by converting the erstwhile Public Health Engineering Department. It is the nodal agency of the Government of Kerala for the development and regulation of drinking water supply, sewerage collection, and waste water treatment across all 14 districts of the state, serving domestic, non-domestic, industrial, government institutional, and rural household customers (including BPL families eligible for up to 15,000 liters per month free) through a tiered tariff model.

KWA's operating footprint is anchored by physical infrastructure — water treatment plants (including a 75 MLD Aruvikkara plant under AMRUT), distribution networks, pumping stations, reservoirs, sewerage systems, and headworks — supported by a multi-tiered office structure (headquarters at Jalabhavan, Thiruvananthapuram; three regional offices; multiple division, sub-division, and section offices). The technology layer includes the PRAVAHAK scheme information system, the Aqualoom consumer complaint portal with photo/video upload, the e-TAPP mobile-friendly web app for Jal Jeevan Mission connections using Aadhaar-based verification, the ePay/Quick Pay online payment portal with QR-code scanning, the qpay water-quality testing portal, Web GIS-based infrastructure mapping, internal tools (DDFS, MARCH, G-SPARK, GSCORE), and customer channels including toll-free 1916, WhatsApp Janamithra, and social media presence. Capital projects are funded through central Jal Jeevan Mission grants, NABARD, KIIFB, AMRUT, and state budgets (e.g., Sita-Nilackal Rs 120 crore; Ettumanoor Rs 93.225 crore).

KWA operates as a government-owned statutory body under the Water Resources Department of the Government of Kerala, with revenue from category-based monthly water supply and sewerage charges (domestic, non-domestic, industrial), one-time new connection fees, and supplementary allocations through state and central programs. Service delivery is direct-to-consumer across all 14 districts, with major institutional customers including the Government of Kerala, medical colleges, Devaswom Board (Sabarimala), municipal corporations of Thiruvananthapuram/Kochi/Kozhikode, and educational institutions. Recent strategic activity centers on rolling out rural tap connections under Jal Jeevan Mission across 941 gram panchayats, digital transformation of consumer services, large multi-year capital projects, and senior leadership transition with K. Inbasekar IAS as Managing Director. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the entity is not investable via conventional PE/VC/M&A channels.

Name

Kerla Water Authority

Legal name

Kerala Water Authority

Website

https://kwa.kerala.gov.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kerala Water Authority (KWA) is the Government of Kerala's statutory nodal agency providing drinking water supply and sewerage services across all 14 districts of the state. It serves domestic, commercial, industrial, institutional, and rural customers through a multi-tiered office network, category-based tariffs, and programs such as the Jal Jeevan Mission.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water and Sewerage Utility Services

NAICS

Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Sanitary Services (4950), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Quality Monitoring, Compliance & Reporting (Sampling, Lab, Regulatory) (EUANAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG), Public Health & Consumer Confidence Reporting (CCR, boil-water advisories, notifications) (EUANAJAL), Water & Wastewater Compliance (NPDES/Stormwater, Pretreatment, Drinking Water/SDWA) (EUAHABAB)

Keywords

• Water supply services
• Sewerage services
• Drinking water utility
• Wastewater management
• Municipal water distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Thiruvananthapuram

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Water Supply Charges: Water supply service charges collected from domestic, non-domestic, and industrial consumers based on consumption and category. Tariffs are fixed and revised by the Authority for areas under its jurisdiction.
2. Sewerage Service Charges: Collection and treatment charges for wastewater/sewerage services provided to consumers.
3. Water Connection Fees: One-time fees for new water connections, meter-related services, ownership changes, and alterations.
4. Sewerage Connection Fees: Fees for new sewerage connections through the etapp portal.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kerala Water Authority (KWA) is the statutory nodal agency responsible for drinking water production and distribution, and sewerage collection and treatment across all 14 districts of Kerala. It delivers water supply, sewerage, new connections, online bill payment (ePay/Quick Pay), complaint management (Aqualoom), water quality testing, and tanker lorry services to domestic, commercial, industrial, and government consumers through a network of regional, division, and sub-division offices.

Product overview

Kerala Water Authority operates as a unified platform providing water supply, sewerage, and related services across Kerala State. The product portfolio centers around consumer-facing digital services including the ePay portal for online bill payments and Quick Pay, the Aqualoom complaint management portal for grievance handling, new connection services for water and sewerage, and water quality testing. Supporting infrastructure management tools include PRAVAHAK for scheme information, e-TAPP for simplified Jal Jeevan connections, GIS for infrastructure mapping, and internal systems like DDFS, MARCH, G-SPARK, and GSCORE. The authority also provides physical services including tanker lorry supply, guest house facilities, and training hall rentals. Jal Jeevan Mission integration enables rural household tap connections across 941 gram panchayats.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Aqualoom: Online portal for registering consumer complaints
• e-TAPP

Products and services

• Drinking Water Supply Service Production, treatment, and distribution of piped drinking water to domestic, non-domestic, and industrial consumers across Kerala on a tariff-based subscription. Free water supply up to 15,000 liters per month is provided to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.
• Sewerage Collection and Treatment Service Collection, conveyance, and treatment of wastewater from domestic, commercial, and industrial consumers, with separate tariff charges and dedicated sewerage connections.
• KWA Quick Pay / ePay Portal Web-based self-service portal for consumers to view water bill/arrear details, pay bills online, and earn incentives on advance payments, accessible via mobile-friendly interface with QR code scanning.
• Aqualoom Complaint Portal Web-based consumer grievance registration and tracking system covering water leak, water shortage, revenue, new connection, sewerage, and electro-mechanical issues; supports photo/video uploads and status tracking.
• New Water Connection Service Digital application and processing service for new water connections, meter-related services, ownership transfers, alterations, disconnections, reconnection, and tariff category conversion.
• New Sewerage Connection Service Online application portal for new sewerage connections, processed through the etapp.kwa.kerala.gov.in platform.
• e-TAPP (e-Thrivenee Aadhaar Portal for Public) Mobile-friendly web application enabling simplified applications for Jal Jeevan Mission water connections using only Aadhaar-based verification as documentation.
• Water Quality Testing Service Water quality testing and monitoring service accessible through the qpay portal, supported by NABL-accredited laboratories including the Alappuzha microbiology lab.
• Tanker Lorry Supply Service Emergency water supply via tanker lorries for areas with interrupted or unavailable piped water service.
• Jal Jeevan Mission Services Implementation of the national Jal Jeevan Mission in Kerala, providing functional household tap connections (FHTCs) across 941 gram panchayats, with rural water supply scheme execution and progress tracking.
• Tariff Calculator Online tool on KWA's citizen corner that allows consumers to calculate water charges based on category (Domestic, Non-Domestic, Industrial) and consumption slabs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Jal Jeevan Mission providing 45,941+ water connections in 2020 fiscal year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Devaswom BoardminorOthersTemple administration board receiving water supply services. Sabarimala pilgrimage water supply project served through KWA infrastructure. The board has made payments of Rs 8.30 crore towards water charge arrears and saved Rs 3.54 crore by switching from tanker water supply.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD): Tamil Nadu's nodal agency for water supply and drainage infrastructure. Comparable to KWA on mandate, scale (statewide), and dependence on central programmes like Jal Jeevan Mission and AMRUT for rural/urban infrastructure funding.
• Delhi Jal Board: Statutory state water utility supplying drinking water and sewerage services in Delhi. Directly comparable to KWA as an Indian state-level statutory body with regulated tariffs, government ownership, and statewide urban+rural service mandate.
• Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran: Maharashtra's state-level water supply and sewerage infrastructure agency. Comparable to KWA in executing large state-wide water supply schemes, coordinating with central missions, and operating regional/division offices across the state.
• Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam: UP's state water supply and sewerage infrastructure agency. Comparable to KWA on the scale of operations (largest state population), reliance on JJM and state-budget funding, and responsibility for rural + urban water supply schemes.
• Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB): Karnataka's statutory water and sewerage utility serving Bangalore Urban district. Comparable to KWA as a southern-Indian statutory authority providing piped water supply, sewerage services, and operating under state-regulated tariffs.
• Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB): Statutory utility providing water supply and sewerage services to Hyderabad metropolitan area. Comparable to KWA in operating model (state statutory body, regulated tariffs, mix of domestic/commercial/industrial customers, and large-scale project execution).

Regional players

• Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation - Hydraulic Engineer's Department: Mumbai's municipal water and sewerage function. Comparable to KWA in operating urban water supply and sewerage under municipal governance with regulated tariffs, though organised under a municipal corporation rather than a separate statutory authority.

Others

• Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organisation (CPHEEO): Central nodal organisation under MoHUA setting technical standards for water supply and sewerage in India. Comparable to KWA in the water-quality/compliance and standards-setting dimension, though it operates as a federal advisory body rather than a utility.
• National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG): Central government mission implementing river rejuvenation and wastewater infrastructure programmes. Comparable to KWA only at the intersection of sewerage treatment, water-quality compliance, and large-scale public infrastructure project execution funded by multilateral agencies.

Broad incumbents

• Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Rajasthan: Rajasthan's state department responsible for water supply and sanitation infrastructure. Comparable to KWA as a state-level government entity executing rural water supply under Jal Jeevan Mission, but structured as a department rather than statutory authority.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WaterKerala
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCt8Kt8WD-zImPmqTMKD6AvQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/kwaonline
• Instagraminstagram.com/keralawaterauthority
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kerla-water-authority

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kerla Water Authority