Rising turbidity worsens drinking water crisis in Shimla, city on the brink

Shimla’s long-standing drinking water woes are set to deepen as the capital faces a fresh crisis triggered by unusually high turbidity levels in its main water supply schemes. Officials from Shimla Jal Prabandhan Nigam Limited (SJPNL), the agency managing the town’s drinking water, confirmed that turbidity in raw water sources has alarmingly reached between 7,000 and 8,000 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU), rendering the water unfit for human consumption.

The surge in turbidity is a direct fallout of relentless rainfall in the region, which has led to heavy silt and debris entering reservoirs and supply channels. “If the downpour continues, the situation could turn more severe,” warned an SJPNL spokesperson.

To tackle the challenge, the department has begun cleaning operations at tube settler chambers and hoppers in an effort to restore water quality. Yet, authorities admit that current measures can only provide temporary relief until the rainfall subsides.

In the meantime, residents have been urged to exercise extreme caution. Officials have advised boiling the piped water before consumption to prevent the risk of water-borne diseases. Citizens have also been encouraged to utilise rainwater for non-drinking purposes such as washing and cleaning.

The supply statistics underline the seriousness of the crisis. On Monday, Shimla received just 0.69 million litres per day (MLD) from Gumma, 0.38 MLD from Giri, 0.97 MLD from Churot, 0.67 MLD from Seog and 0.17 MLD from Koti Brandi. This totals a mere 5.67 MLD against the town’s daily requirement of 45–48 MLD — barely a fraction of what is needed for its population.