SUEZ has secured a 25-year concession contract to provide water services to over one million people in Salem, Tamil Nadu, marking the company's largest water supply contract in India. The contract, valued at EUR 456 million, was awarded by the Salem City Municipal Corporation (SCMC). A 45-day period has been designated for the parties to finalize the concession contract.
The project will involve upgrading Salem's water supply system across a 91 km² area, including the rehabilitation of intake structures, water treatment plants, and pumping stations. In addition, SUEZ will replace and strengthen 1,800 km of aging pipelines, construct 26 new service reservoirs, and upgrade 39 existing ones. By the end of the contract, 234,634 households will be connected to the city's water network, with advanced digitization systems deployed to support customer service, meter reading, and billing.
SUEZ’s performance-based contract includes key targets such as reducing non-revenue water by 20% within five years and improving customer complaint resolution. The company will operate the system for 20 years after an initial five-year construction and rehabilitation period. Ownership of the assets will remain with the municipal corporation throughout the contract.
With a proven track record in India, including a successful water distribution concession in Coimbatore, SUEZ continues to strengthen its leadership in India’s water sector. The company currently provides water and wastewater services to 65 million people daily across the country.
