Water supply hit as ammonia levels rise

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 15

Water supply was hit in several areas of central, north Delhi, and under NDMC and Delhi Cantonment today due to “dangerously high” levels of ammonia in raw water supplied after operations of Chandrawal and Wazirabad treatment plants were suspended.

The production at the plants had to be suspended this morning due to leakage in the carrier lined channel (CLC) that brings water from Haryana to Delhi. The situation will take at least a day to improve even as its repair is said to be complete tonight.

Water Minister Kapil Mishra who is monitoring the situation said in a series of tweets, “CLC is leaked in Haryana. We get raw water through CLC. Haryana is repairing it so we need to shut CLC. Now water coming through main river course where ammonia is dangerously high. So production from two plants stopped temporarily.”

“No compromise on water quality. Supply to be affected for one day in areas covered by Chandrawal and Wazirabad plants. I am personally monitoring the situation and we are in constant touch with authorities in Haryana,” he said.

As it is being repaired, water supply in the CLC has been diverted to the Yamuna river, the water of which is extremely contaminated with levels of ammonia between 3.5 ppm and 4 ppm.

Chlorine used in treatment of water cannot be used as after coming in contact with ammonia it will produce trihalomethane which is carcinogenic in nature.

While the repair operation is under way, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has also asked the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to check the quality of raw water samples.

A senior DJB official said the ammonia treatment plant, which was inaugurated by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal last year, cannot treat anything beyond 1-2 ppm.

DJB plants treat around 900 million gallons of water per day (MGD), of which share of Wazirabad and Chandrawal plants is about 220 MGD.

“Repair of CLC will be completed by 9 pm tonight. Supply to be restored by tomorrow morning 7 am in most parts,” Mishra tweeted.