Sewage-mixed drinking water greets residents

Piped water had a bad odour and dark colour

Corporation workers dig up the road to locate the source of water contamination on West Venkatasamy Road at R.S.Puram in the city on Tuesday. Photo: K.Ananthan

Residents of West Venkatasamy Road, R.S. Puram, were greeted by drinking water that got mixed with sewage.

R. Shantha Kumar, a resident, says that around 6 a.m. when the Corporation started supplying water, he noticed that the odour was bad and colour dark.

Having had a similar experience around five weeks ago, he immediately attempted to reach the area Councillor.

Having failed, he said he dialled the Commissioner’s office and then other officials concerned but to no avail. Finally he went to the Mayor’s residence, where he was told that officials would immediately attend to the problem.

Following the assurance, two Corporation engineers rushed to the spot but could not find the exact spot where the sewage mixed with the drinking water.

Mr. Shantha Kumar said that as of Tuesday evening, the officials were yet to plug the leak as the spot was yet to be identified.

He then asked for lorry supply of drinking water, which was arranged. All the residents of the locality were supplied lorry water.

Corporation officials could not be reached for their comment.

Councillor S. Manimeghalai said that she was not aware of the problem as she was not in town.

Mr. Kumar said that he wanted the Corporation to ensure that the drinking water pipelines were not damaged while undertaking the underground drainage work.