South Goa to Go Dry without water as 160 MLD Salaulim Plant Shuts for Pipeline Fix
MARGAO: A total shutdown of the 160 MLD Salaulim Water Treatment Plant at Xelpem, Sanguem, has been announced for urgent repairs to the 1200mm Salaulim PSC pipeline, cutting off water supply to most of South Goa for two days. The Public Works Department said there will be no water supply on Monday, May 5 and Tuesday, May 6, 2026, to Quepem, Cuncolim, Curtorim, Margao, the South Goa coastal belt, Fatorda, Nuvem, Cortalim, Dabolim, Vasco, and Mormugao constituencies. Restricted supply will continue on Wednesday, May 7, as the system re-pressurizes.
PWD officials said the pipeline has developed major leaks near Xelpem and “cannot sustain peak summer load without risking a catastrophic burst”. The 100 MLD Salaulim plant will remain functional. Areas fed exclusively by it, and those on borewells or local schemes, will get normal supply. However, PWD warned that pressure will be low across the network as the 160 MLD plant meets nearly 60% of South Goa’s demand.
The outage hits the entire Salcete taluka, Mormugao taluka, and parts of Quepem and Sanguem. Hospitals, hotels, high-rises, and coastal villages from Benaulim to Velsao will be affected. The PWD has asked Goa Medical College, Hospicio Hospital, and Chicalim PHC to fill storage tanks by Sunday night. “The inconvenience caused to the general public is highly regretted, but this work is unavoidable before May peak demand,” said Executive Engineer, PWD Div-XII. “We are clubbing valve replacement and joint repairs to avoid multiple shutdowns later.”
PWD said supply will normalize in phases from Wednesday evening, with tail-end areas in Dabolim, Velsao, and Vasco likely to see water only by Thursday morning. This is the longest planned shutdown of the Salaulim system in 2026.Engineers say the current repair will stabilize supply for the next two summer seasons. Local MLAs and municipalities have been asked to inform housing societies and panchayats.
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