One of the striking findings by the research team from the Department of Geology and Centre for Biotechnology, Anna University, that studied the quality of groundwater in 26 areas proximate to the bands of the Adyar river is that groundwater in areas located even 700 metres away from the river has been contaminated as the river swelled beyond its banks during the floods in December 2015.
L. Elango, professor, Department of Geology, Anna University, said that as the river’s flow was much above the top of the wells, sewage content and leachate from garbage that was usually confined to the river boundaries mixed with groundwater. Some locations in Besant Nagar had better groundwater quality compared to other areas closer to the banks. The floods had improved parameters like total dissolved solids in groundwater.
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Usha Antony of Centre for Biotechnology said that they had to analyse the samples for over a month to find out if the bacterial content thrived in sewage. The bacterial content was expected to come down only if a fresh bout of heavy showers hit Chennai.
Experts advise residents to chlorinate or boil the water before consumption.
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