Forum finds water samples unfit

 

Tests Done In 6 Districts; Samples From Govt Hospital, Rly Stations Substandard

Chennai: Water samples collected from taps and borewells in public and private places in six districts have been found to be contaminated. In Chennai, water from taps at Chennai’s Rajiv Gandhi government general hospital, Central railway station and Egmore railway station were also found to be unfit for consumption. 
    An assessment by Consumer Association of India for 2012-13 said half of 1,222 water samples tested in Erode, Nilgiris, Kancheepuram, Vellore, Trichy and Chennai were found to have microbial organisms, suggesting that they are unfit for human consumption. Nearly 44% of samples have total dissolved solids (TDS) count higher than the permissible limit of 500mg/litre (parts per million). The water samples lifted from industrial areas around Perunthurai SIPCOT in Erode, and Manali near Chennai, were found to be unfit for drinking. A consolidated report of results of drinking water samples tested in six districts was released on Monday. 
    Experts said a high TDS count may cause gastrointestinal irritation. A hydrogen sulphide test will indicate the presence of disease-causing microbial organisms. In Chennai, the tests covered Avadi, Sembium, Manali, Nazarethpettai, Iyyappanthangal, Mannivakkam and 15 zones of Chennai corporation. 
    Surprised by the results of water samples drawn from hospitals and railway stations, the volunteers of CONCERT, a centre for consumer education and research, retested the samples and found that they were unfit. 
    Noted consumer activist R Desikan said even packaged drinking water was not fit for human consumption. “People have to think of boiling water before consumption,” he said, recalling the recent findings of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board that said only 51 out of 85 private water packaging units in and around Chennai were supplying potable water. 
    With groundwater extraction being excessive, the water quality has taken a beating in neighbouring Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts. Bureau of Indian Standards scientist H L Upendar said that poor sanitation was the core problem. 
    In Perunthurai, the water samples tested near SIPCOT dyeing units reveal the poor state of affairs. A resident of Kambuliampatti in Perunthurai block, T M Thangamani, said locals suffered from skin and eye conditions after the units started letting out untreated water into the ground five years ago. “More than 80 dyeing units in Perunthurai SIPCOT are causing problems, as a result of which nearly 21 village panchayats have poor ground water. The water is dark in colour,” she said.