Sewage mixed drinking water supplied in Tondiarpet

“It has been more than two weeks since the water has been contaminated. When we open the tap or get water from the hand pump, what flows out is a black-coloured foul-smelling liquid. The situation has grown worse in the past three days,” said Vishnu MP, a resident of Market Farm. Though the residents here have taken it up with the officials several times, they have not taken any action so far, he added.

Sukumaran K, another resident of the locality added, “The water is gross, unhygienic and unhealthy. Due to this, water purifiers and washing machines at many homes have been damaged. This should be considered as a serious problem because there are people falling sick.” So far, five people from the neighbourhood have been hospitalised with fever after consuming the contaminated water, Sukumaran claimed.

The residents said they were particularly worried about the children’s health due to this. What makes it even more difficult for them is that the Metrowater’s tanker lorries do not come inside their street. The quality of the water is so bad that the residents do not even use it for gardening. “It is sewage. And the Metrowater tanker lorries do not supply water to the residents in our street. So we have to spend Rs 100 every day to get can water from nearby shop,” said Nirmala L, another resident.

When asked, AV Ezhumalai, Area Engineer, Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board told DT Next that action would soon be taken to rectify it. “We will dig up the road and check for sewage line seepage as the water pipeline passes through storm water drain,” he said.