PUDUCHERRY: Drinking water supplied through pipes by the Public Health division of PWD has been found contaminated with faecal matter in many areas of Puducherry even before cyclone Thane struck the region.A test done by the Concert Research Laboratory, Chennai on samples provided by consumer organisations in various parts of the UT at a workshop conducted by Department of Civil services and Consumer affairs on November 24 and 25, has shown presence of faecal matter and a TDS (total dissolved salts) level higher than the permissible limit, making it unfit for drinking. According to the report, faecal matter was found to be contaminating water in eight areas. The samples collected from Ambedkar Nagar, P S Palayam, Gobalankadai, Kamaraj Nagar, Doctor colony, Sanjay Nagar, Second Cross, Thillagur Nagar, Thirumal Nagar, Kosapalayan, Ariyankuppam, and Vanigar Veethi, Thirukanoor have indicated the presence of Hydrogen Sulphide, indicating faecal contamination.In 19 other areas, the TDS levels were higher than the permissible limit (500 ppm). While 17 samples collected showed TDS levels in the range of 520 to 1,000, the ones from Kadalur Salai, Muthaliarpet and Kamaraj Nagar have TDS of 1,358 and 1,265 respectively.Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs director Priyatarshiny, to whom the report was sent to this month, has forwarded it to the PWD. P Outtiresvarane of the Humanity Consumer Centre had also presented a memorandum to the Chief Minister, urging rectification of the problem. Saying that the contamination was due to the leakage of sewage water through the old rusted pipes constructed several years ago, he urged the government to replace all the old pipes with new ones.
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