The Indian Express              27.06.2013

Water samples from shallow tubewells fail tests

Even as the Municipal Corporation is exploring the possibility to make use of water from shallow tubewells for drinking purposes, two of the samples that were tested have failed.

The civic body would be testing a total of 38 water samples.

A discussion on the issue was held in the meeting of the Finance and Contract Committee where the agenda to install 45 new tubewells came up for discussion.

These tubewells will draw water from deep acquifiers.

From December this year, 9 million gallons daily (MGD) of water from Chandigarh would be diverted to Panchkula and Chandimandir. The Municipal Corporation is exploring different options to tide over any shortage out of this.

A report has been prepared by a committee comprising three Executive Engineers.

One of the options proposed is the possibility of using water from shallow tubewells for drinking purpose. Samples from some tubewells were collected.

Two of the samples have failed the test with the bacterial content being much higher than the permissible limit. Presence of ammonia was also found.

An official stated that 38 samples will be tested. If eight to 10 of these fail in the tests, then this option would be dropped.

In fact, a report on "State of Environment Chandigarh-2012", released by the Environment Department recently, states that no groundwater from shallow tubewells in Chandigarh is prescribed as drinkable.

The proposal to install 45 new tubewells was approved. The BJP councillors however raised some questions over this. Councillor Arun Sood said, "We have demanded that a more detailed discussion on the issue be held and opinions of experts be sought. The Central Ground Water Board needs to be consulted. No study has been conducted on whether the sites where the tubewells are proposed to be installed have availability of sufficient water."

As many as six tubewells are proposed to be installed at water works in Sector 39. Apprehension has been expressed by councillors at what it would do to the receding groundwater level.

Also, as per studies on the groundwater level, the conditions are better in the northern sectors as compared to the southern sectors.

In fact, the tubewells in the southern sectors are not proving to be successful and several have become defunct within a short period.

Chandigarh receives 87 mgd water of which 67 mgd is canal water received from Kajauli Water Works and around 20 mgd is from tubewells.

Since the share of Haryana from canal water has to be given, Chandigarh would be left with 78 mgd of water while the peak demand is 113 mgd.