Concerns arise over quality of tanker water in Chennai

CHENNAI: Lack of uniform policy to check the quality of water that is supplied by the private water tankers has left residents with no choice but to consume contaminated water.

Private water tanker companies are tapping water from unidentified and abandoned sources compromising on quality. In the Keerapakkam stone quarry, a 22-year old murdered body of a man found four months ago. Now, private tankers are pumping water from the same quarry and supplying to households. Even from a quarry near Thiruporur, a body was fished out in January and tankers pump water from there too.

As per rules, the legal responsibility to check the quality of water lies with Metrowater and they act only if there are complaints. The local bodies and food safety department, under the Public Health Act, support Metrowater by checking water contamination regularly. In March, Greater Chennai Corporation had picked up 621 samples and found 36 unfit for consumption.

“The problem is that they check for quality only when we complain,” said S Gopi, secretary of Subramania Nagar Civic and Welfare Association in Kodambakkam. He added, “We are worried about the quality and don’t use tanker supply for drinking or cooking purposes. We use this only for washing and bathing. Also, the situation is so bad that we somehow adjust as we don’t want to irk the private water supply companies.” Metrowater and public works departments formed a committee in October 2018 to regulate private water tankers.

“A draft report has been submitted to the chief secretary and we await corrections after which it will be passed in the assembly. These norms will ensure water is drawn only from permitted locations, treated before supply, rules for the permit and other details. A team would be formed to monitor the implementation,” said a senior metro water official. 

Gopalakrishnan V, a civic activist, said, “Many gated communities treat the water in their RO plants before use. And other residents have no choice but to boil before use. Also, tanker owners won’t tell us where they pumped the water from and say they cannot give any certification on the quality of water,” he said.

The officials at the public works department, under whom the lakes and quarries come, were unavailable for comments. Some quarries also belong to industries and revenue department. Concerns arise over quality of tanker water.