By The Hindu Bureau
Copyright thehindu
Residents of ward 24 in Sivaganga municipality complain of receiving contaminated drinking water with a foul odour and taste for more than a month.
Particularly, South Market Street in the 24th ward, with over 100 houses, has been receiving similar contaminated drinking water.
Due to the persisting problem for more than a month, residents said they had been buying purified drinking water from water suppliers and shops.
Sathya, one of the residents, said, due to the bad odour of the water, despite repeated boiling, the water was still unusable.
“The residents have faced similar problems in the previous years during rainy seasons, but that would at least be made usable after boiling,” he added.
This time, though there was no rain in the recent days, the sewage water mixed which was being supplied was unfit to use both for drinking and washing purposes, Mr. Sathya noted.
Another resident Semmalar, said, the water when used was causing discomfort for adults and vomiting and stomach ache for children.
“We did not know this at the beginning. We just kept on heating and using the water, but, once we realised it was due to the water we have stopped using that,” she added.
As other residents too experienced similar health issues, the residents confirmed it was due to the bad drinking water they had been consuming.
The residents are being supplied water under the Vaigai combined drinking water scheme.
The municipality officials had informed residents that the problem might have occurred due to any breakage in the water connection from Madurai.
They had assured the residents that they would look into the problem and until then the residents were asked to boil the water for usage, the residents added.
A municipality official said they have received a complaint from the residents. “We are looking into where the place where the water is getting contaminated and once it is found out the issue will be solved,” the official added.
