Vijayawada: PCB to monitor potable water quality in ULBs

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) intends to monitor the quality of drinking water being supplied by Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to the general public in the State particularly in the regions where aquaculture industry is flourishing.

Two samples will be collected from the ULBs at the water source inlet before treatment and after treatment before being supplied to households for potable purpose on quarterly basis. Water quality is tested for the parameters, physico-chemical, bacteriological, pesticides and toxic metals. Cities and towns and major gram panchayats were selected in the first phase. The main objective of conducting the water testing is to ensure supply of pure potable drinking water to the denizens.

Water testing will be made in the cities of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Rajahmahendravaram, Eluru, Vijayawada, Machilipatnam, Guntur, Ongole, Nellore, Tirupathi, Chittoor, Kurnool, Kadapa and Anantapur.

Water testing will also be carried out in the following municipalities and major panchayats: Bhimavaram, Nidadavolu, Kovvuru, Tadepalligudem, Tanuku, Palakollu, Jangareddygudem, Narsapuram, Akiveedu Amalapuram, Mandapeta, Peddapuram, Pithapuram, Ramachandrapuram,Samarlakota, Tuni, Yeleswaram, Gollaprolu & Mummidivaram.

Vivek Yadav, Member Secretary, APPCB, in a press release on Tuesday said the exercise taken up by APPCB is to ensure the supply of clean potable water to the households, that complies with the World Health Organization and IS-10500 standards for drinking water.

The analysis reports will be communicated to the concerned Urban Local Bodies for taking further necessary action, accordingly. He further said the APPCB is already monitoring water quality of rivers, groundwater, lakes, wetlands, coastal waters, canals, etc. in the State on regular basis as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) laid down protocols. Water quality is tested for the parameters, physico-chemical, bacteriological, pesticides and toxic metals.

Water samples are being collected by AP Pollution Control Board at 36 locations from Godavari, Krishna, Penna, Tungabhadra, Nagavali, Vamsadhara, Hundri, Kundu, Munneru and Paleru rivers in the State on Monthly basis.