Bathing, washing mess up Singda water
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 18 2014 : With Singda Water Supply Plant which is the major source of potable water for Imphal city and surrounding areas left to its own as if there is no authority to look after it, water supplied by the plant has become an object of public scrutiny regarding its quality.

The plant having treatment capacity of 18 MLD (million litres per day) has been supplying potable water to people of Imphal city and surrounding areas.

In addition, water supplied by the plant reach Raj Bhavan as well as Babu-para quarters of Ministers and MLAs.

A random survey conducted by The Sangai Express found people of the locality washing clothes and taking baths in the vicinity of the water treatment plant.

Moreover, stacks of soap covers, empty packets of detergent powders and empty sachets of shampoo were found strewn all around the vicinity of the treatment plant.

Some young boys were seen waiting for their turn to take bath just outside the treatment plant.

A couple of wo- men were also found taking bath just beside the aeration site of raw water.

People washing clothes/bathing near a water treatment plant

Aerated water coming out from the aeration site is taken to the treatment plant in a small canal.

With many of the local people taking bath and washing clothes just beside the canal made for drawing aerated water, soap and detergent effluents get mixed with the aerated water.

What is even more astonishing is that the major por- tions of the compound fence constructed around the treatment plant have broken down and what still remains is used as clothesline for drying clothes.

With major parts of the compound fence broken, one cannot rule out that some wicked people might drop some impurities into the water treatment tank.

As many people have been drawing water from the tank using buckets besides taking bath and washing clothes near the plant on daily basis, soap and detergent effluents got mixed with water treated for public supply.

On account of all these unchecked activities, water supplied by Singda Water Supply Plant is no longer hygienic enough.

According to Helen Lhouvum, son of the water treatment plant's chowkidar Louchon Lhouvum, they are facing serious difficulties in their efforts to check washing of clothes and taking bath around the treatment plant.

Every day people come to the plant to take bath and wash clothes.

The number of people coming to the plant for the same purposes is even greater on holidays.

Any strong worded intimation to stop coming to the plant was retorted with an even provocative words, He-len said.

With most of the compound fence already broken, people from all directions come to the plant to wash clothes and take bath using foot tracks.

One chowkidar is helpless even though the Section Officer come to the plant occa- sionally.

To stop people from infringing upon the plant, a tight compound fence with a gate is necessary.

The arrangement may even require stationing security personnel, Helen said.

Polluted or impure water may cause diarrhoea, dysentery many other diseases.

According to Prof Dr Th Premchand of Department of Medicine, RIMS, body soap effluents do not cause much harm to human body even if they get mixed with drinking water.

But in case drinking water gets mixed with detergent effluents, drinking such water may cause diarrhoea, dysentery etc.

Nowadays, number of children suffering from diarrhoea and dysentery is very high.

One primary factor is drinking polluted water.

The illness may get worse and turn into typhoid, said Dr Premchand.