Water samples in Faridabad found unfit for consumption

Bijendra Ahlawat

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, August 2

The drinking water being supplied by the civic body here has been found largely unfit for consumption if the report of the Health Department is to be believed. As many as 78 per cent of the samples taken for testing in the past seven months have “failed”.

Of the total 1,821 samples collected till July 25, as many as 1,421 failed as no chlorine was found in those, it is reported. The samples were collected randomly from various tubewells operated by the civic body and taps in the residential areas.

Only 16 per cent of the total 431 samples collected in May, June and July passed the test, it is revealed. Earlier, the Health Department had reported the water sample failure at 73 per cent for January, February and March.

While health officials describe chlorination as mandatory to check bacteria and virus growth, civic body officials claim that the water supplied by it was fit for consumption.

The department collected the samples from tubewells or booster pumps spread in the city to check if those were properly chlorinated.

It is alleged that the chlorinators installed by the MCF at the majority of tubewells and pumps had either been dysfunctional or had no chlorine when the samples were taken.

“The collected samples are put through a test called Orthotolidine Test in which the level of free and combined chlorine residual is determined,” said Dr Ram Bhagat, in-charge of the test cell in the Health Department here.

He said chlorination of piped water supply is important as it checks the presence or growth of certain bacteria and virus that could make the water unsafe. Consumption of untreated water could result in health disorders like cholera, typhoid and dysentery, he added.

Contesting the claims, DR Bhaskar, Chief Engineer, Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF), said that water supplied from MCF tubewells was safe as its source is underground water table and not the surface water. He, however, admitted that the chlorinator at some pumps may be non-functional or may not have the desired amount of chlorine at the time when the samples were lifted. The city has a total of 1,477 tubewells and booster pumps.