The Indian Express            03.08.2013

27 samples of shallow water fail purity test

The proposal of the Municipal Corporation to make use of shallow
water for the purpose of drinking seems to be headed towards failure.
Reason: As many as 27 samples of shallow water collected from different
places for testing were found unfit for human consumption. A total of 38
samples were to be tested.

With 9 million gallons daily (MGD) of water that is at present
being used by Chandigarh to be diverted to Panchkula and Chandimandir by
next summer, the city is likely to face scarcity of water. Keeping this
in view, it was proposed that water from the shallow aquifers be tested
to see whether it could be used for drinking purpose. At present, the
water from shallow tubewells is being used for irrigating gardens and
greenbelts.

Samples that were collected from these tubewells in different
sectors could not pass the test of purity. Bacterial matter was found in
the samples. Superintending Engineer (Public Health) R C Diwan says,
“The samples have failed the test. The water is not fit for human
consumption. We plan to get these tested by another authority to get a
second opinion.”

Chandigarh has no source of generation of water and is largely
dependent for water supply on the Kajauli Water Works. With Chandigarh’s
proposal for augmentation of water supply being in the lurch due to the
refusal of the Punjab government to release water, alternative sources
of water are being explored.

Chandigarh receives 87 mgd water. Of this, 67 is canal water and
the remaining is from tubewells. The civic body has recently approved a
proposal to install 45 tubewells in different sectors. Concern was
raised over the depleting groundwater level in the deep aquifers. In
contrast, the city has adequate reserves of water in the shallow
aquifers.

The tubewells that were installed in southern sectors over a
period of time have not been found to be very successful. These
tubewells start emitting sand faster than those installed in northern
sectors. That is another reason that it was decided to explore the
quality of water from the tubewells that were already installed. The
samples were tested in the laboratory of the Municipal Corporation.

Keeping in view the likely scarcity, emphasis is now being laid on
preventing wastage of water. It is proposed that measures be taken to
reduce the wastage from 22 per cent at present to around 5 per cent.