Navelim receives polluted water supply

NAVELIM: About 20-30 families residing around the Our Lady of Rosary church in Navelim have been receiving contaminated water for over a fortnight now.
Speaking to TOI on condition of anonymity, the families said they had first orally intimated the PWD officials in charge of their area, and on Wednesday they had filed a written complaint.
Fed up with their situation, they filled buckets with the water running through their taps.The water, as the photo alongside shows, is black and has particles floating about.
Senior PWD officials said they had not received the complaint. Refusing to speak on record, they pooh-poohed the matter saying the issue may be linked to a "minor technical fault". They have sought another written complaint "to identify the affected area".
The residents meanwhile are worried that the contaminated water will lead to health issues in the area.
"The water we are receiving through the PWD water pipelines is meant for consumption and we pay for this water, but it is black, muddy and hazardous," residents told TOI on Thursday. "Is the PWD expecting us to consume this water and fall sick?" they asked.
They wondered whether the contaminated water is linked to the manganese found in the raw water at the Selaulim water treatment plant that has led to the supply from the plant being restricted to Salcete and Mormugao talukas.
PWD officials denied the possibility of this, pointing out that the plant has a filteration system.
The residents want PWD to explain the cause of the contamination and what they need to do to protect themselves. They also want PWD to give them a waiver in their water bills "as it has failed to provide clean water".