If scarce water has been a major problem for Delhiites this summer, dirty water only aggravates their problems. People in almost all parts of the city have been complaining of contaminated water being supplied by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). The problem gets worse as sewer water mixes with potable water due to leakage in the pipelines. Moreover, the supplied water also smells very bad, rendering it completely useless.
According to an estimate, nearly 25 per cent of households in the Capital are bereft of treated water. Even the VIP lutyens Bungalow Zone (lBZ) is not spared of the menace. A few residents of these VIP areas complained that the water supplied to them is contaminated too. "The water is so dirty that forget about drinking, it is not even fit for bathing. We either buy bottled water or use filters. But, what about the large number of employees who stay in servants' quarters with usIJ They are the worst affected," a resident of the colony said.
The list of localities receiving contaminated water also includes Tilak Nagar, Moti Nagar, Rohini, Keshavpuram, part of the Walled city, Geeta Colony, Karkardooma, New Ashok Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, Trilokpuri, Pitampura, Ambedkar Nagar, Aya Nagar, laxmi Nagar and Ashok Vihar.
"We have been receiving extremely dirty and foul-smelling water for the past two months, which is not even suitable for washing or cleaning purposes," complained Mandeep Singh, a resident of New Sahib Pura in Tilak Nagar.
Several families across Delhi complained that because of the filthy water supply they have to depend on buying water cans for drinking purpose, which is very expensive for daily use.
"The water is very bad and dirty. The actual Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in water should be between 50 and 70, for drinking purposes. But, the water supplied to us is so high on TDS that even our RO systems fail to filter it. Its candles have to be replaced in two to three months. So, we have now started using packaged drinking water," Anil Vajpayee, President of RWA Federation, East Delhi.
"Places like Geeta Colony, Karkardooma, New Ashok Nagar and Trilokpuri are the most affected. Residents come to us bringing water from their homes and it is awful. It is black and smells bad too. It is not just once, but an everyday affair in many households. We have complained to the concerned authorities many times, but in vain," said Renu Sharma, President of Resident Welfare Association (RWA), Geeta Colony.
Similar situation is faced by the residents of North Delhi as well, especially in areas like Keshav Puram and Ashok Vihar, the quality of water is pathetic. "Our main sewer line is broken, water pipeline is damaged and we get water which has sewage mixed in it," said Ronnie Bahl, a resident of Keshav Puram.
Earlier, DJB Chief Executive Officer Debashree Mukherjee told 'The Pioneer' that the major problem is with the colonies situated at tail-end.
"We are trying our best. Till now, we have completed 81.3 per cent of water connections in the city. We are promptly supplying water in the areas under us. Moreover, 167 additional water tankers with GPS systems will be deployed. With this new system, it will be easy for us to track the tankers, so we can ensure that water is being efficiently delivered," she said.