Malampuzha reservoir ill-suited for raw use

PALAKKAD: The water of Malampuzha reservoir has become ill-suited for raw use and it has become impure with huge quantity of sediments washed into the reservoir in landslides, soil erosion and flood, affecting the supply of quality drinking water to Palakkad municipality and six adjacent grama panchayats. Malampuzha is the only water source for the major Malampuzha drinking water supply scheme in the district.

KWA executive engineer R Jayachandran has said that “the raw water from Malampuzha reservoir is not treatable as it has become muddy with sediments washed into the dam due to soil erosion and landslides. The water is filtered and super-chlorinated. Lime and alum are added for dissolving sediments. We have stocked eight tonnes of alum and lime for cleaning the drinking water. The permitted level of sediment is 5 Ntu, but Malampuzha water has now 10 Ntu. Hence it is not fit for raw use and should be used only after boiling,” he said now surface water of the reservoir is used for drinking water supply.

The source of Pothundy water supply scheme, Pothundy reservoir, is also facing the same issue due to landslide and soil erosion in Nelliyampathy Hills. The drinking water supply was shut down for one week due to the poor quality of water.