Water pressure test puts residents' patience to test

The repeated inability of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) to solve persistent water problems at Teachers’ Colony, Koramangala, has earned it the scorn of residents here.

Hardest-hit are residents living on First and Second Avenues and in neighbouring lanes, who have been complaining of water problems since June. The BWSSB’s attempts to solve the crisis by conducting a pressure test at First Avenue, 5th Main Road for the last 10 days has escalated tensions among residents who accuse the Board of only making things worse.

Mohan K K, a resident, explained that there were only two water valves in the colony — the main valve which is located on 5th Main, First Avenue and the other on 3rd Main, along the same avenue. Problems, however, began in June when the valve on 3rd Main developed a problem.

After much persuasion by residents, BWSSB began to dig up the road on 5th Main, in order to conduct a pressure test, designed to check the flow of water and determine if there was a pipeline connection problem.

"From June, we were getting water at very low pressure. Ever since  the BWSSB started the pressure test, there is not a single drop of water reaching our homes especially on 1st Main, 2nd Main of First Avenue and also a few lanes in the remaining five Avenues in the Colony,” Mohan said. “The authorities are unable to detect what is wrong, but they keep reassuring us that they will solve the problem at the earliest,” he added.

In the absence of a solution to their problems, many residents have been forced to purchase water from private tankers. Another resident, Nethra G, suspects that the ongoing BWSSB work has worsened the problem. “Thankfully there is a borewell in my house and like others, I do not need to shell out money,” she said.

However, other residents are not so lucky. “I am spending about Rs 500 a week for water,” said M A Nagaraj, a resident of Third Avenue.

BWSSB refutes claims

Ramesh, BWSSB Assistant Engineer, Teachers’ Colony, denied the charge that the ongoing work was affecting the supply of water to the colony.

“We dug up the road and started testing the valve only three days ago,” he said. “In another two days, the pressure test will be completed, while Larsen & Toubro Limited will execute the repair work.”