603 plaints of water contamination in 2013

 The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has received as many as 603 complaints of water contamination this year.

Old
and corroded lines which are frequently clogged, and haphazard laying
of water and sanitary lines are reasons cited by the Board for the
contamination.

Some of the worst-affected in the City are
residents of HBR Layout, 5th Block, where many people have taken ill
after consuming water which was mixed with sewage water.
Dr Gopal K,
a resident, said: “The water and sewage pipelines run parallel to each
other. We suspect that the water lines were damaged, which was what
caused the contamination of water. Although BWSSB officials visited the
spot, they were unable to identify the source of contamination. There is
now an immediate need to replace the water pipelines.”

Similar problems

Residents of
Lakshmipuram in Ulsoor on CMH Road are also facing similar problems. Tap
water in this locality is black in colour and has a foul smell.

“I
have written several times to many BWSSB officials, including the
chairman, but there has been no response. The pipelines are laid
unscientifically, as is evident from a pipe bend at one of the lines on
18th ‘A’ Cross, which is the main cause of contamination. We would like
senior engineers from the BWSSB to inspect our locality,” said
Shanmuganathan, a resident of Lakshmipuram.

Those living in the vicinity of Garuda Mall also receive supply of contaminated water due to the ongoing drain construction.

‘No permanent solution’

Pradeep
Chandran, a resident of Magrath Road in Ashoknagar, says that the water
he receives at home is dark-coloured and resembles sewage water in
appearance and odour.

“For the past one year, there have been
several episodes of water contamination. Though the BWSSB official
attends to our query, there is no permanent solution,” he added.

Reacting
to the contamination complaints, BWSSB’s engineer-in-chief T
Venkataraju, said that contamination mainly happens at house service
connections and not in the main water lines.

“There are many
house service connections which need replacement, but the residents are
not willing to spend on it and say it is the Board’s fault.

Contamination happens at places which are thickly populated and where
there are numerous lines cutting each other. If the contamination
happens through BWSSB’s pipelines and residents approach us, we will
replace them immediately,” he added.