Water that quenches their thirst is also slow poison

For the residents of AMCO Layout at Kodigehalli, it’s a double whammy. They not only face acute water shortage, but also risk contracting water-borne diseases from contaminated borewell water.

Like the case of Kiran Kumar, whose 10-month-old child has been diagnosed with typhoid. “We do not receive Cauvery water at all. We are supplied water from a borewell maintained by the BWSSB. I got the (borewell) water tested and it is found to contain high levels of nitrate. First it was my child, and recently my wife has also been diagnosed with typhoid,” added Kumar.

Ram Prasad’s son, who is writing his SSLC exams this year, was struck by typhoid last week. “My son is not cured completely, but he is writing his exams. Though we complained to the BWSSB officials about the quality of the water, no action has been taken in this regard so far,” he says.

The presence of nitrate in water is mainly due to a large number of soak pits dug by residents due to the lack of an underground drainage system. Sewage water is either drained into the stormwater drain or diverted to the soak pits.

“We spend close to Rs 1,000 a month on buying water. The BWSSB agreed to supply water to our area once in five days for 15 minutes, but that is not enough. Borewells are located very close to some soak pits and stormwater drains. This is the main reason for nitrate contamination.

Test reports show the nitrate level in the water at 61 mg/litre, which is more than the permissible limit of 45 mg/litre. The chief chemist asked us not to use the water for drinking or cooking,” said Kavitha Suresh, a resident.  The local corporator has sunk a borewell close to a stormwater drain. This will not solve the water problem, but only increase contamination, she added.

Narasanna, Assistant Executive Engineer, BWSSB, said he was aware of the problem of contamination and had proposed  installation of a ‘mini sand filter’ to reduce nitrate content in the water. “There is severe water crisis in the entire City. To supply water to Kodigehalli, we will have to divert supply from elsewhere. We have been instructed to supply Cauvery water on Thursday,” he added.

Kodigehalli is located in Bytarayanapura constituency which was earlier under the City Municipal Council. The area is deprived of roads, underground drains and drinking water and other basic amenities.