Is Pimpri-Chinchwad’s Water Safe? Officials Disagree as GBS Cases Rise
Water From 138 Locations In Pune Found Unfit For Drinking
Municipal Corporation Orders Re-Testing as Health and Water Departments Disagree on Contamination
Pimpri: Amid rising cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) had sent water samples from 23 locations in the city to the State Health Laboratory in Pune for testing. The results revealed that water from 13 areas, including Thergaon, Pimpri, Kalewadi, Ajmera, Dighi, Tathawade, Moshi, and Bhumkar Vasti, is unfit for consumption. Due to the potential risk of GBS transmission through contaminated water, the civic body has decided to conduct a re-evaluation of the water quality in these regions.
At least 18 GBS cases have been reported in Pimpri-Chinchwad to date, with one death. A senior civic official confirmed that the water samples tested at the State Health Laboratory were collected from houses or areas where suspected or confirmed GBS cases were reported.
However, conflicting findings have emerged. While the PCMC health department’s report on January 29 indicated contamination in multiple areas, officials from the water supply department conducted their own tests on February 2-3 at 11 of the same locations and found the water to be potable. City engineer Pramod Ombhase, who heads PCMC’s water supply department, stated to TOI, “We received the report from the health department and immediately conducted our own tests. However, we found the water to be safe for drinking.”
The health department had tested tap water from PCMC’s supply line in six locations and stored water from households in two places. In Sant Tukaram Nagar, even water samples taken from filtered 20-litre bottles were found to be non-potable. Despite this, Ombhase emphasized that PCMC has increased daily water sample testing from 150-200 to 300-350, yet no contamination has been found.
Water Supply and Purification Measures
The PCMC assures residents that water supplied through its pipelines undergoes stringent purification processes at municipal treatment plants. The five-stage purification includes:
- Disinfection with chlorine to eliminate bacteria.
- Mixing with liquid disinfectants for additional safety.
- Filtration to remove impurities.
- Storage in a clean tank before distribution.
- Final sterilization using liquid chlorine, with chlorine levels checked every ten minutes in the laboratory.
Despite the differing test results, the PCMC has urged residents to exercise caution and consume only safe, purified water. Further investigations and water quality monitoring will continue to ensure public health safety
