Water Supply, Health depts lock horns over water sample report

Patiala, January 10

The Department of Water Supply and Sanitation (DWSS) today refuted the Health Department water sample report that had failed the potability test. Questioning the report, Water Supply Department said contrary to 54 reported samples, only six were collected by them last year.

Apart from these six samples, they didn’t have information about any other samples, said Superintending Engineer (SE) of DWSS.

In fact, in a written reply to Chief Engineer Punjab, the SE claimed no official of the DWSS was intimated by the Health Department while taking the water samples other than those six samples.

However, the Health Department had informed that 54 samples of the DWSS were collected from January to November 2019. Out of which, 34 water samples were found unfit for human consumption.

Moreover, the DWSS said that apart from six samples, other samples collected by the department might be of submersible pumps, therefore, their department was not responsible for those samples.

“We are responsible for water supplied by us through tap waters only. People install submersible pumps for water supply which we are not responsible of. These are private sources. In future, the Health Department should inform us before collecting samples,” the SE added.

Meanwhile, the Health Department insisted that collected 54 samples were of the DWSS. However, the department said that they would, in future, inform the department concerned. — TNS