Pipeline leak: flow of water continues

To determine the source of leak that has been occurring at Gopalapatnam repeatedly, GVMC has decided to send water samples for testing.

The leak that occurred twice in as many months came to the notice of officials on Monday. The leak early in October was plugged after a thorough check of Thatipudi and Godavari pipelines.

Officials from the Water Supply wing collected samples flowing through the drains and from an air valve leak nearby.

They told residents of VUDA Colony that the continuous flow (of water) occurred from the hill-slopes. Water has been flowing round-the-clock though it appears to have thinned down a little on Wednesday evening.

“The officials had collected three samples and based upon the chlorine content in the water from near the valve came to the preliminary conclusion that the flow occurred from a spring as the water flowing down the drain had no chlorine content,” sources told The Hindu.

However, to conclusively locate the source of the leak and the water flowing, GVMC has decided to send the water samples to an accredited lab.

It will definitively establish whether the water is that of a spring depending upon its characterstics.

The samples will be sent to an NABL-accredited lab or to the laboratory of Institute of Preventive Medicine on Thursday, it is learnt.

The result will be known in two days. If the flow is caused by leaks to Thatipudi or Godavari pipelines, they have to be arrested, according to an official. If it’s proved otherwise, steps have to be taken for conservation of the spring water and its better utilisation.

GVMC authorities have decided to send water samples for testing