HYDERABAD: Tests find river water unfit for drinking
By Our Correspondent
HYDERABAD, Jan 26: Chemical tests of water of the River Indus on Wednesday showed that conductivity and hardness of the water were above normal levels, indicating contamination of the water.
Sources in the Jamshoro thermal power house, which conducted the tests, said conductivity of the water on Jan 26 was found at 450ms/cm against the normal level of 250-300ms/cm. Likewise, hardness of the water was 175ppm against the normal range of 100-120ppm and chlorides were recorded at 35ppm against the 15-20ppm normal range.
They said the readings indicated that the water was contaminated. The readings started changing from Jan 19 when conductivity was recorded at 280 ms/cm, hardness at 125ppm and chlorides 17ppm.
Power house officials daily tested samples of the river water before using it for boilers of four units which produce 880 megawatts of electricity. If the water quality is not up to the mark, the officials will have to use maximum quantity of chemicals to treat water which is very expensive.
Last year, when the city was hit by water contamination crisis, the changing pattern of the water's chemistry was first noted at the Jamshoro power house in April. At that time, chlorides were recorded at 740ppm and hardness at 140ppm. On May 14, conductivity of water was recorded at 3,250ms/cm.
Due to this, the power house units had to be closed last year in May, causing losses of billions of rupees to the national exchequer. At least 42 people died between May and June due to consumption of contaminated water released into the River Indus from the Manchhar Lake through the Aral regulator.
A high-level inquiry was conducted by a committee headed by irrigation secretary Ashfaq Memon which proposed different measures in its findings to overcome such crisis in future.
Officials of irrigation, health, Hyderabad Development Authority and the Water and Sanitation Agency are also being tried in a criminal case lodged at the Market police station under directives of the then chief minister.
