Koramangala residents get water mixed with sewage; sumps, tanks contaminated

Residents of Koramangala have been getting drinking water mixed with sewage for the past two weeks ever since the BWSSB began the replacement of underground sewers in the area.

Sumps and overhead tanks, the only source of water for houses in 5th Block, have been contaminated with sewage.

Retired wing commander B R Madhava Rao and his wife have been struggling to get in touch with local officials to complain about the contamination. "After making several phone calls, the local BWSSB engineer finally came to identify the source of contamination. They are not even giving us an alternative supply. We are forced to depend on local water tankers and pay for drinking water," he added.

His wife Jyotsna Rao said they had pay to clean the sump and the overhead tank and also for the water tanker and drinking water. She said she did not enjoy living in Koramangala anymore with the frequent problems related to water, roads, sanitation and traffic.

BWSSB has been replacing sewage pipes for the past six months in the area. At one place, pipes were replaced six months ago as there was frequent clogging, resulting in sewage flowing on to the road. Though the pipes were replaced, sewage still flows on the road.

BWSSB assistant engineer H K Rudresh said contamination was not due replacement work, but due to the roots of trees which have damaged the pipelines. "We took some time to identify the source of contamination, but were able to identify it. We are replacing the pipelines, which will prevent contamination," he added.

Asked about sewage water overflowing from newly laid pipelines, the engineer said that sometimes new pipes could also develop leaks. It could happen due to vehicle movement or because of clogging as waste is dumped into these lines.

He said the board had been struggling to replace pipes on Jyoti Nivas College Road for nearly six months due to the presence of rocks in the soil. The engineer said laying pipes after breaking the rock on the busy road was delaying the work.