10% hike in quantity of unfit water supplied in Mumbai since 2020

The sources from which the water is being collected include service reservoirs through which water is supplied in different parts of the city.

Later, the water sample is being sent to the municipal laboratory where an assessment of the bacterial quality is being carried out by checking of suspended particles in every 100 ML of water and based on the regular findings, an aggregate of percentage is being prepared.

The latest ESR report shows that overall quality of unfit water in Mumbai stood at 0.99 per cent, which is a 10 per cent rise since 2020-21, when the percentage was 0.9 cent, while in 2021-22 the quality of percentage stood at 0.33 per cent.

The report furthermore shows that B ward, which covers the areas like Bhindi Bazar, Dongri and Sandhurst Road has higher percentage of unfit water with 6.7 per cent — this is also a rise by five per cent in the past one year.

In R/Central ward which covers Borivali, Gorai areas in the western suburbs the percentage of unfit water stood at 2.1 per cent while in G/North ward, which covers the Dadar, Mahim and Matunga neighborhood the figures stood at 1.7 per cent.

The report also shows that S ward (Bhandup, Kanjurmarg) has the best water quality with only 0.1 per cent of unfit water, followed by 0.2 per cent in L ward (Kurla). Last year, S ward recorded zero percent of unfit water.
Pointing out to the result, civic officials and elected representatives have maintained multiple factors behind the quality of water in Mumbai.

A senior official from Hydraulic Department, which carries out the assessment in coordination with the health department and municipal laboratory, stated that the reason why S ward has the best water quality is because of its close proximity with Bhandup Filtration Plant.

“Areas like Kanjurmarg, Kurla, Ghatkopar have better quality of water because these places are closer to the Filtration Plant in Bhandup that is located in the eastern suburbs. Therefore, the water that is supplied from the plant to these pockets are of a shorter distance during which, there is hardly any chance for suspended particles to get mixed with them,” said an official.

The officials also pointed out that the rate of contamination of water is higher in places which have underground supply channels that dates back to the British-Era.

Amin Patel, legislator from Mumbadevi, which falls under B ward, states, “Almost all the water supply channels are built underground and with progress in time many of these structures have become corroded which at times may let in seepage of suspended particles or sewage inside the pipeline leading to deteriorating of quality,”.

Mumbai has a requirement of 4,250 MLD of water daily out of which the BMC is able to supply 3,950 MLD only, which comes from seven different lakes located on the outskirts of the city and then supplied to residential packets and commercial units through a piped distribution system.