Delhi: Water aplenty, but not enough to drink

NEW DELHI: Water supply is going to be affected for at least two days with the three major water treatment plants (WTP) along the Yamuna - Wazirabad, Chandrawal and Okhla - being shut due to the flooding of the premises, Delhi Jal Board (DJB) stated on Thursday. The plants meet about 25% of the total drinking water requirement of the city.

According to DJB officials, water started entering the pumping systems attached to the plants on Wednesday night, and by early Thursday morning, the power supply had to be switched off to avoid any major damage to the machines from short circuits.

"Due to the rising water levels in the Yamuna, the Wazirabad, Chandrawal and Okhla water treatment plants have to be closed. Due to this, there will be water problems in some areas of Delhi. As soon as the Yamuna water recedes, we will try to start them as soon as possible," chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said after visiting the Wazirabad plant on Thursday morning.

The three plants produce around 280 million gallons per day of drinking water. According to officials, six WTPs are still working, but the functioning of the Sonia Vihar WTP has also been reduced by about 25% and localities under 20 assembly constituencies in south, north and west Delhi and in New Delhi Municipal Council areas would be affected by the shutdown.

"The pumps attached to the three water treatment plants are around 20 feet below the ground level, so the river water has entered there. We hope the water level comes down soon, so that normal functioning can be resumed after the machines are dried," said a DJB official.

Kejriwal cautioned people that water supply would be affected for two days. "We had never imagined the water level would go this high. Because of this, three of our WTPs have had to shut down. The machines have submerged in the water due to the rise in the Yamuna level," he added.

NDMC has also issued a public notice asking Delhiites to use water judiciously and preserve sufficient quantity in the storage tank as per their minimum requirement. "In case of any emergency or water requirement, the NDMC water control room at Kali Bari Marg may be contacted to provide the filter water through water tanker/trolley," the council stated. People can call 23360683, 23743642 and 23747568 for supply of filter water, it added.

According to DJB officials, the board will deploy approximately 500 water tankers to supply water from the remaining plants. "We will deploy enough tankers in the city to provide drinking water to the affected areas. Water from other plants is also being diverted to these areas. As of now, the water level is stagnant and the pumps are being taken out of water and moved to dry spots. But it all depends on the water level of the river," said a DJB official.

Besides its helpline 1916, DJB has also issued emergency helpline numbers - 23527679/23634469, and urged people to use water judiciously.