New Delhi: Water supply was hit in several parts of Central and North Delhi, NDMC areas and Delhi Cantonment due to “dangerously high” levels of ammonia in raw water.
According to Delhi Jal Board (DJB), high levels of ammonia content was found in the raw water being treated at Chandrawal and Wazirabad water treatment plants. Out of the 900 million gallons per day (MGD) of water that is treated by the DJB, the two plants accounts for nearly 240 MGD. Water minister Kapil Mishra said the water supply will be restored by 7 am on Monday. Operations at the plants had to be suspended on Sunday morning due to leakage in the carrier lined channel (CLC) that brings water from Haryana to Delhi.
As it is being repaired, water supply in the CLC has been diverted to the Yamuna river — which is extremely contaminated with levels of ammonia ranging between 3.5 ppm and 4 ppm.
The DJB said that the raw water cannot be treated with agents like chlorine as after coming in contact with ammonia it will produce trihalomethane which is carcinogenic in nature. Mr Mishra said the ammonia treatment plant, that was inaugurated by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal last year, cannot treat anything beyond 1-2 ppm.
The DJB has also asked the Central Pollution Control Board to check the quality of raw water samples from their ponds. The national capital has faced frequent water contamination due to pollution from Haryana, even as the matter has been raised with the Union water resource minister Uma Bharati. “No compromise on water quality... I am personally monitoring the situation and we are in constant touch with authorities in Haryana,” he said on Twitter.
“CLC is leaked in Haryana. We get raw water through CLC. Haryana is repairing it so we need to shut CLC. Now water coming through main river course where ammonia is dangerously high. So production from two plants stopped temporarily,” the minister said in a series of tweets.
“No compromise on water quality. Supply to be affected for one day in areas covered by Chandrawal and Wazirabad plants. I am personally monitoring the situation and we are in constant touch with authorities in Haryana,” he said on Twitter.
