Water supply was severely affected in various parts of central and north Delhi on Sunday after dangerously high levels of ammonia was detected in non-processed water. The people in these areas will be dependent on water tankers for two days.
Keshav Chandra, Chief Executive Officer at Delhi Jal Board (DJB) said, " Ammonia level of around four ppm was detected at Chandrawal and Wazirabad treatment plants, which seeped in due to a leakage in the carrier lined channel (CLC) that carries water from Haryana to Delhi. Following this, operations at these plants had to be suspended. He further said that it will take at least a day to restart the supply. "We would be able to release the water supply by tomorrow morning," Chandra said.
DJB has also asked the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to check the quality of non-processed water samples.
"The CLC leakage took place in Haryana and was shut down for repair work. The water that is being channeled now, comes from the main course of the river, where the ammonia content is extremely high," said Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra, in a series of tweets.
"The quality of water will not be compromised, although supply will be affected for a day in areas covered by Chandrawal and Wazirabad plants. I am personally monitoring the situation and we are in constant touch with the authorities in Haryana," he tweeted.
Since the canal is getting repaired, the water supply in the CLC has been diverted to river Yamuna, where the water is highly contaminated. It can't be treated with chlorine because it produces trihalomethane, a carcinogen, when it comes in contact with ammonia.
Later in the day, Mishra tweeted "The CLC will be repaired by 9pm tonight. Supply shall be restored by 7am next morning in most parts of the area."
