The Hindu : Rust in drinking water at Park Town

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 09, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

Rust in drinking water at Park Town

By Karthik Subramanian

CHENNAI MAY 8 . Residents in some parts of Park Town, who wake up by 4.30 a.m. to take to the handpumps, have been appalled at the strong yellow colour of the water and accompanying stench for more than a month now.

Several complaints to the Metrowater authorities have not yielded any result, say the residents. Since purchasing packaged water is not a feasible option for the economically poorer sections of people who reside here, there is nothing much to do other than to boil the water before consumption and hope that no harm befalls them.

The affected areas include Nainiappa Maistry Street, Mannar Street, Paramasiva Street, Rasappa Chetty Street and Vengu Chetty Street.

The local Metrowater officials said the affected areas were in the `tail-end' of the supply chain, and the sediments witnessed in the utensils used to collect water "was in all probability rust from the pipelines". A senior official at the Metrowater headquarters said they would take up flushing of the pipelines in the region during the next non-supply day to rectify the problem.

Such complaints are common in other parts of North Chennai too.

Metrowater is currently supplying 275 million litres of water on alternate days to the city's domestic consumers. The agency is also supplying 40 to 45 million litres every day to the industrial belt in Ennore and adjoining areas.

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