Educational Field Visit to WATER PURIFICATION PLANT, Coimbatore
Organized by Sree Abirami School of Nursing
Date: 26th June 2025
Water is life, and ensuring its purity is a critical part of public health. With this in mind, Sree Abirami School of Nursing, Coimbatore, organized an educational field visit to the Vellalore Corporation Water Treatment Plant on 26th June 2025 for the first-year GNM students. The visit aimed to provide the students with real-world exposure to the functioning of a municipal water purification system and its role in safeguarding public health.
A total of 35 students, accompanied by Ms. Sharmila and Mrs. Deva Princy, visited the water treatment facility with prior official permission. The program commenced at 9:30 AM, and the students were warmly welcomed by the plant’s staff. They were then guided through an informative orientation session conducted by Mr. Krishna Moorthy, a plant officer with extensive expertise in water treatment operations.
Mr. Moorthy provided a detailed overview of the water purification process, beginning with the collection of raw water from Pillur Dam, one of Coimbatore’s primary water sources. The raw water is transported via large pipelines to the Vellalore plant, where it enters a pre-sedimentation tank to allow heavy particles to settle before further treatment.
The students were taken through each key stage of purification, beginning with aeration, where dissolved gases such as carbon dioxide and volatile odors are removed to improve water quality. This is followed by chemical dosing, where alum and bleaching powder are added to promote coagulation and flocculation—processes that bind and settle fine particles from the water. The treated water is then transferred to a clariflocculator, where suspended impurities are effectively separated.
The next stage introduced students to one of the most vital components of the process: filtration. The plant houses 10 rapid gravity sand filters in a second-generation filtration unit, where the water passes through layers of fine sand and gravel to remove any remaining particles. After filtration, the water is subjected to final disinfection before being pumped through the municipal distribution system.
The treated and purified water is then distributed across Coimbatore via an extensive network of pipelines, reaching nearly 2 lakh residents in the city. The students were impressed by the scale and efficiency of the operation and the crucial role this plant plays in ensuring safe and hygienic drinking water.
In a second session, the Administrative Officer provided insights into the plant’s operational history and its governance under the Coimbatore Municipal Corporation since its establishment in 2012. He emphasized the facility’s importance in maintaining public health standards, especially in a rapidly urbanizing city like Coimbatore.
Throughout the visit, students engaged actively, asking questions about the chemical agents used, the frequency of maintenance, and the safety protocols in place. The experience provided them with a practical understanding of water sanitation, a subject that directly links to community health and disease prevention.
The field visit underscored the importance of clean water supply systems, not just as engineering marvels, but as essential public health infrastructure. As future nursing professionals, the students were able to relate their classroom learning to real-world practices, understanding how preventive health begins with environmental safety—especially in water hygiene.
The visit concluded with expressions of gratitude to the plant staff for their hospitality and knowledge-sharing. Students returned with enhanced awareness about municipal water purification, its challenges, and its impact on community well-being.
This visit reaffirmed Sree Abirami School of Nursing’s commitment to providing holistic, hands-on education. It also empowered students to recognize their future role in health education, not just within hospitals, but in communities where access to clean water remains a foundation for life and health.
