Experts unveil slew of hacks to improve Mission Bhagiratha water quality

Hyderabad: Experts of public health have been suggesting the government to take few steps to improve the quality of Mission Bhagiratha water being supplied all over the State.

They said that there was a need to add some more treatment methods and to strengthen the distribution system of Mission Bhagiratha water so that the health conditions of the people who consume it improves.

They said that continuous usage of RO (Reverse Osmosis) water by large number of people of rural and urban areas of Telangana would have ill effects on the health.

They have stated that according to World Health Organisation prolonged usage of RO water will lead to adverse health problems like Osteoporosis, Arthritis, bone loss, hair loss etc.

Retired professor of National Institute of Technology, Warangal M Panduranga Rao who conducted studies in Warangal city area said that the tests they have conducted on RO and MB water have suggested that mineral water would damage the health of people whereas usage of Mission Bhagiratha water would help to protect the people from falling prey to certain diseases.

He has submitted a report to State Planning Board vice chairman B Vinod Kumar on the findings. He said that the MB water is free from turbidity, biological contamination, alkaline and has adequate total dissolved solids (TDS) to the tune of 300 to 400 PPM which is very ideal for drinking water requirements.

But the people in the rural and urban areas are using RO water with less than 100 PPM which leads to severe damage to the health.

He said that along with the engineers he has inspected the filters of MB water to study the quality and quantity of raw as well as filtered water. The filter beds are performing well and require some inputs to the existing set up to enhance the performance.

In view of the monsoon season the quality of treated water supplied to the citizens should be free from turbidity and bacteriological contamination. This will ensure the citizens free from water borne diseases like Gastroenteritis, Jaundices, Typhoid etc.

He said that to maintain the quality of water, enhancing alum treatment, increasing chlorine dosage and maintaining residual chlorine levels at the tail end to 0.2 PPM should be taken up.

He said that alum preparation tanks should be executed, clariflocculators have to be made functional and some filters have to be changed, stainless steel railings have to be introduced instead of iron railings which were corroded due to pre chlorination process and proper maintenance of all filter beds should be done.

He said that work should be done to improve and better the treatment process at the filter beds and prevent contamination enroute the distribution system by closing pit taps and other leakages in the pipelines.