The Times of India 05.08.2010
TNPCB to monitor water quality in Chennai
CHENNAI: For the first time ever, Chennai's drinking water would come under the microscope of scientists at the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB). Plans are afoot to start monitoring the quality of drinking water in the lakes that feed the city.
Water from the lakes in Porur, Poondi and Red Hills as well as the Veeranam lake in Cuddalore district, which supplies water to the city, would soon be tested in the labs of TNPCB. The Pulicat lake, into which effluents from the thermal power stations in north Chennai and the Buckingham Canal are suspected to flowing, will also be studied. A proposal to this effect has been sent to the Central Pollution Control Board, said R Ramachandran, member secretary TNPCB.
Until now the city's water quality had been tested only by Chennai Metrowater Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB). As per the proposal, samples taken from the lakes would be subjected to microbiological and physio-chemical analyses in the labs of TNPCB by a dozen scientists. "The findings would give a better picture of the level of contamination in the water supply chain. Wherever pollutants exceed prescribed limits, remedial measures would be suggested by PCB," said Ramachandran. The parameters on which a sample is graded include alkaline content, biochemical oxygen demand and fecal contamination.
The new initiative is part of a larger exercise to bring all the water bodies in the state under scanner and monitor the quality of rivers, temple tanks, village ponds and wells. Testing of the water quality in the tanks of Kapaleeswarar, Parthasarathy and Gangatheeswarar temples has also been proposed, and is awaiting clearance from Central Pollution Control Board, which has initiated such studies under Global Environmental Monitoring System (GEMS) and Monitoring of Indian national Aquatic resources (MINAS).
The TNPCB, which had been monitoring water quality in 32 locations in the state under the two schemes, has now been asked to expand the scope and range of the testing. Until now, monitoring had been confined to the water bodies in districts such as Thanjavur, Madurai, Thirunelveli and Erode and along other river basins in the state, as well as the three lakes in Ooty, Kodaikanal and Yercaud.
"The proposal will result in effective monitoring of a major stretch of drinking water source in the state. Studies of lakes, ponds and other aquifers would give a better idea of the level of ground water contamination over a period of time," said Ramachandran.
