Ammonia spike in Yamuna lowers output at 5 water treatment plants in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Five water treatment plants (WTP) of Delhi Jal Board (DJB) at Wazirabad, Chandrawal, Haiderpur, Bawana and Dwarka have reduced water production due to very high levels of ammonia in the Yamuna river, impacting several areas across the city.
According to officials, the current pollution in the river is 5 ppm, which has reduced water production by around 100 million gallons per day (MGD) the average production of 990 MGD.
Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Monday said that BJP-ruled Haryana was responsible for the increasing levels of pollution in the river.
According to DJB officials, south, north and central Delhi will see reduced water supply for the next few days. Among these are Greater Kailash I and II, South Extension, Moolchand, Jahangirpuri, Kalkaji, Govindpuri, Sangam Vihar, Model Town, Civil Lines, Bawana, Inderlok, Mangolpuri, Peeragarhi, Raja Garden, Hari Nagar, IGI Airport, Dwarka, and diplomatic areas.
"The major impact is at Wazirabad and Chandrawal plants," a DJB official said.
The Wazirabad plant has an overall capacity of producing 138 MGD. Production was reduced by around 40-50% to 55-60 MGD. The other affected plant is Chandrawal, which has a capacity of 99 MGD. Here, the production was reduced by around 10%. it is currently producing 89 MGD.
Whenever the ammonia levels increase, DJB dilutes the raw water by mixing it with cleaner raw water, taken from the Carrier Line Channel. This line supplies raw water to Dwarka, Bawana, Haiderpur and Chandrawal WTPs, hence they are also affected.
The combined average production of Dwarka, Bawana, and Haiderpur plants is around 311 MGD. Of this, 31 MGD was reduced. So, 31 MGD plus 55-60 MGD reduction at Wazirabad and 10 MGD at Chandrawal make it an overall reduction of 95-100 MGD.
Bharadwaj said industrial waste from Sonipat and Panipat continuously drive up ammonia levels. "This is the same Yamuna about which BJP constantly questions Arvind Kejriwal. What have you been doing for the past 10 years?" he said.
Delhi BJP general secretary and MP Yogendra Chandolia said: "If water treatment plants are unable to control ammonia levels, it's because Delhi govt is unable to upgrade the treatment plants."