THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The intermittent supply of yellowish water in the city during the past weeks has caused panic among the citizens. While KWA blames the increased iron content in the water at Aruvikkara dam, certain areas continue to get clear water and certain others yellowish water showing a disparity in the quality of water supplied. As per Narayana Das of Marakkada road, Chalai, he conducted a turbidity test of water at home and found precipitation in it.
“I have been getting yellowish water for two weeks. I went to Karamana area and found people there are getting clear water. On being tested, I found precipitation in the water. This shows there is something wrong with the water,” said Das. KWA sources say that the level of muddiness in water was too high at areas such as PTP Nagar and high magnesium content has been found in certain coastal wards.
Aquarist Vijayan Kurup of Ambalathara says he is afraid of the health of his expensive ornamental fish which are sensitive to ph levels and other salts in water. “I have been getting yellowish water which I use in my aquarium. Sometimes muddiness gets settled on pebbles but sometimes it doesn’t. I suspect a wide range of impurities other than mud sneaking in to the water supply during summer,” he said.
Meanwhile, Water Authority officials attached to Kuriyathi section of PH division claimed that impurities could be sneaking in due to reduced water pressure.
“When pressure dips, muddy water may enter the system. When we again increase the pressure, may be the alum and rust stuck inside the pipe comes to the tap. This will be resolved,” an official claimed.
“The water in the dam is yellow due to organic decay around waters. Iron content in water chokes the filter bed of our filter plants. The permissible colour hazen unit (hu) in drinking water is 20 in our supply whereas the variation in the water coming to the city is up to 15. There is no need to panic,” another official said.
