The Noyyal River starts from the Vellingiri hills in the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu. The river comes down to southeastern India and empties into the Kaveri River. The length of the river basin is 180 km and it is 25 km wide, covering a total area of 3,500 km² (1351 mi²). The fertile land in the basin is around 1,800 km² (695 mi²) while the population density is around 120 people per km² (311/mi²) in the countryside and 1000 people per km² (2590/mi²) in the cities.

The area of the Noyyal River is known for its inadequate rainfall and the development of the Noyyal River Tanks System to hold any overflow from the rains plus the water of the Northeast and Southwest monsoon season was economically important. The 173 km long tributary of the Kaveri River filled 32 tanks. These interconnecting tanks hold the water flowing from the Noyyal.

The township of Coimbatore once upon a time surrounded by the Noyyal River and its canals, tanks, and rivulets were a source of water to the town. The Noyyal River and its interconnected tank and canal system was originally built by the Chalukya Cholas kings. During that time, the water usage of this river was an efficient system that provided required water transport and storage along with maintaining stable groundwater stages. Surplus water from the Noyyal River often spilled into the canals and was directed to the tanks, thus preventing undesired flooding. The tanks were the major factor in refilling the ground water through percolation of the subsoil water.

As the region developed, the system was no longer used, the number of tanks was drastically reduced, and only eleven tanks were remaining. Today the system no longer works and water is a desired resource there. Agriculture has radically decreased. The "Noyyal" is a sacred river in Tamil history and its original name was Kanchinadi, however it was later changed later to the name of the place where it drains into the Kaveri River in 1750 A.D.

The Noyyal village is situated at the banks of Noyyal River and Kaveri (Ponni) River where both the rivers merge. An ancient goddess Sellandiyamman temple is also situated at the place of sangamam. Noyyal village had played a vital role in the Kunnudayaa Gounder Koothu, folklore of Kongu Vellala Gounders.

The river flows with too much natural antibiotic minerals. As like the many other dangerous changes due to the lifestyle changes and change in culture, the "Noyyal" is also down to the way to deceased. "Noyyal" drainage water channel was made alike many other life giving rivers by the government. The " Nallaru" another river in Tiruppur area is also into same plight because of the huge concentration of cloth dyeing factories dumping their industrial wastes into the river. However since 2004, efforts have been made by local volunteers organization "Siruthuli" to conserve the water resource.

Periyar, the Cheyyar River and the Kanchimanadhi are the tributaries of the Noyyal river. They all have their origins in the Western Ghats. Periar flows out of the Siruvani hills and the Kovai Kutralam, a land mark waterfalls. Chaadiaar or Cheyyar River flows through Chaadivayal and later along with the other rivers join up at Kooduthurai to become Noyyal River. After running through a distance of 160 km, Noyyal joins Kaveri at Kodumudi in Erode District. The place is also called Noyyal. Apart from these three rivers, there are numerous rivulets joining Noyyal. But most of these rivulets carry water only during the rainy season and thus are not perennial. According to the available sources, the numbers of rivulets are 34.

The river has a valley is made of alluvial kankar soil for over a stretch of 25 km and a depth of 198 ft. It extends from the origin of the river at Kooduthurai in Madhvarayapuram, 30 km west of the city to the Ukkadam Tank on the city limitation. The fill absorbs water like a sponge. Only when the absorption reaches a saturation point does overload water flow to the suburbs and the city.

The river has 23 check dams. Most are located in between Kooduthurai and Tirupur, 52 km east of Coimbatore city. Several years ago, the river irrigated almost 3550 square kilometres. Noyyal revival over 40 km will be able to irrigate almost 165 square kilometres, according to Siruthuli.

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