Sick of dirty water

With reservoirs drying up in the state and Metro Water tapping other sources to meet the water needs of residents across the city, complaints are pouring in from various quarters on contamination in the water supply. 

Water contamination is caused by various factors, ranging from natural mineral deposits in the water source, to the more common mixing of sewage and other effluents in our drinking water supply. 

Environmentalists claim that due to the fact that impure water is generated by a variety of sources and the contaminants found are varied and numerous. They include, organic material, pathogens, metals, salt, ammonia, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and endocrine disruptors. “Some of these, such as pathogens and heavy metals, are undesirable in all treatment plant effluents, as they are harmful to both humans and the environment. Others, such as nitrates and phosphorus, can be extremely harmful if the effluent is being discharged to receiving waters,” said an environmentalist. 

Stating that this presence of chemicals in the water can cause a variety of water-borne diseases, Dr S Mayilvahanan, Director, General Medicine, Rajiv Gandhi Government General medicine (RGGGH), said, “It can cause diarrheal diseases, jaundice, vomiting and other long-term diseases like chronic kidney failure. The seriousness of the problem depends on the severity of infection. We usually suggest that people boil the water, before consuming it. However, now, there are other options like Reverse Osmosis technology for purifying water as well.”

Diarrhoea, due to water contamination, is generally seen more among children than adults and patients are usually taken to the Institute of Child Health and Children’s Hospital, Egmore, said Dean of the Hospital, Dr Narayana Babu. A 12-year-old girl from Mogappair had recently been admitted in the hospital due to a severe bout of diarrhoea. Hospitalised for a day, and administered saline, she was discharged after recovery. 

Although hospitals claim that there is not a single case of patients coming in with water-borne diseases, some doctors confess they are seeing actually a rise. “Usually, we see quite a few cases in June and July. However, this year,  there has been a rise in the number of patients with diarrhoea, due to contaminated water and food,” said Dr Mathrubootham Sridhar, Consultant Paediatrician, Apollo Children’s Hospital. 

“When the city is faced with a huge drought problem, people tend to save up whatever water is available – whether treated or not. Problems of diarrhoea and vomiting are on the rise, the main cause for which are viruses and bacteria. If the patient suffering from such problems is not treated, and he keeps losing water from his body, it could eventually result in his kidney shutting down. A patient with diarrhoea should always be kept hydrated,” he added. 

Despite such complaints being on the rise and doctors urging the public to boil the water they drink, a senior official of the Chennai Metro Water Board, said “Metro Water can be consumed directly and we are supplying water to the residents after laboratory tests and treatment process. So, there is no need for boiling supplied by Metro Water.” 

Medical experts claim that boiling contaminated water will only remove the bacteria and not the chemicals. “If consumed over a long period of time, several chemical contaminants can cause chronic kidney disease of unknown origin. In the case of a temporary kidney failure, we will be able to identify it, as people will have vomiting and diarrhoea, however, in the long term, it will be difficult,” said Dr Georgy Mathew, Head, Nephrology Department, Madras Medical College.  

Citing an example, he said, “Pockets of chronic kidney disease of unknown origin were identified in Srikakulam and Prakasam districts in Andhra Pradesh and also in some parts of Goa and Odisha. Consumption of contaminated water was identified as the cause. It is therefore essential to alert the Metro Water officials, when one comes across contaminated water and avoid consuming the same.” 

“People can let the slurry water to settle and leave an alum stone in it, which will help reduce the turbidity,” said a hydrologist. “As Chennai does not have any perennial water supply, and when monsoon also fails, we have to manage with rain water, which is stored in reservoirs, treated and given to the public. Many depend on Reverse Osmosis to clear the water and it is very useful as it tends to make the water safer for consumption,” he added.