High levels of coliform found in rivers: Locals

Mumbai: Citizens from Ambernath and Badlapur have alleged that treated water from Waldhuni and Ulhas rivers is reeling with higher levels of coliforms.

Laboratory tests carried out by the citizens’ group found that the treated water from the rivers, which is supplied even to government offices and schools as potable water is not fit to consume.

“Out of the 12 locations that we selected, four locations had polluted potable water. It is a serious concern that even the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation water is not potable to be used for drinking,” said Satyajit Burman, member of Ambernath citizens’ forum. The other spots include tap drinking water from Mahatma Gandhi School in Ambernath (west), DCP Zone IV and ACP Ambernath, which showed coliforms levels of upto 16.

Earlier in December, an RTI query revealed that the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) had complained to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, stating that the quality of the treated water has been severely affected due to the polluted river near the well of MIDC Barvi water works in Jambhul and Shahad area “We have not received any official complaint yet. To counter the pollution in Ulhas river, we have diverted the Khemani nullah that used to release untreated sewage into the river,” said a senior MPCB official requesting anonymity.