2 water treatment plants shut down after ammonia levels rise

As two water treatment plants in Delhi were forced to shut down due to high level of ammonia in the raw water, Delhi Chief Secretary K K Sharma has shot off a letter to his Haryana counterpart seeking his intervention into the matter. The water supply in several areas including Lutyens’ Delhi is severely affected.

According to Delhi Jal Board, the level of ammonia in the raw water was recorded at an alarming 2.5 mg per litre on Wednesday which was much higher than the acceptable limit of 0.8 mg per litre. 

“Due to rise in ammonia level in the raw water supply from the river Yamuna, production of potable water at Wazirabad and Chandrawal plants is affected. DJB has been assured that the corrective measures are being taken up to stop the entry of the pollutants coming from Haryana drains into the river course and the situation is expected to improve soon,” said spokesperson of Delhi Jal Board.

“The raw water quality is being continuously monitored at half-an-hour intervals in DJB’s laboratories to check the ammonia levels. As soon as the ammonia levels reach treatable limits, the plants will be made operational,” the spokesperson added in a statement.

According to officers of DJB, the water supply will be adversely affected in NDMC areas, North Delhi, North-west Delhi, Central Delhi and parts of West and South Delhi. 

The localities affected are Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid, Civil Lines, Subhash Park, Mukherjee Nagar, Shakti Nagar, Adarsh Nagar, Model Town, Jahangir Puri, Wazirpur Industrial area, Punjabi Bagh, Gulabi Bagh, Hindu Rao, Jhandewalan, Motia Khan, Pahar Ganj, Karol Bagh, Old Rajinder Nagar, Naya Bazar, East and West Patel Nagar, Malka Ganj and their adjoining areas.