Residents irked at poor quality quarry water

The residents also complained that they stopped using metro water and were at a compelling circumstance to buy drinking water from private players. However, metro water board officials denied such allegations and said that they would again take samples of quarry water for further checking. 

The metro water board, due to unprecedented drought and dried lakes, decided to tap water from stone quarries for the first time. Though officials claimed that water was tested thrice and made fit to drink before supplying to areas in Central and Southern parts of the city, the complaints from the residents tell a different story. 

“The colour of the water is brown and there is an unbearable stench. So, we cannot even take a bath in the water,” said Vinayak, a resident of Shenoy Nagar. “I also enquired with my neighbours regarding the water and they too had same complaints, he said and added that the officials concerned should thoroughly examine water, since it would create disease outbreaks.” 

Kamaraj, another resident of Arunachalam Street, Egmore, echoed the same view. “The officials should sense the fact that people are paying tax for metro water. So, they must provide quality water. Interestingly, if we booked online for water tanker, water is fit for consumption. But, things take an ugly turn, when we receive piped-water,” he said. 

When contacted by DTNext , a senior official of CMWSSB, on conditions of anonymity, said, “We will take yet another water sample for quality check. We were earlier cautious and made tests before distributing water,” the official said.