Muddy drinking water reaches Hyd homes following rains

Hyderabad: In the aftermath of the rains, several residents in Hyderabad got muddy drinking water on Sunday.

Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) officials, however, said it's not a cause of concern as it was due to turbidity in Godavari's water supply. "Due to heavy rains, the mud content is slightly more. It is not polluted water. Citizens can boil the water and drink it," an official said. "The sediments in the river Godavari come up due to the heavy rains," he said.

The official explained that this kind of water is observed in the Godavari. During the monsoon, Hyderabad gets a fresh inflow of water from the Godavari into water plants where water is treated.

According to HMWS&SB, alum is mixed with raw water (received from river Godavari) as per WHO standards. After this, chlorination is done. The officials said water is only supplied to the public after quality checks and said the turbidity is due to the recent heavy rains.

"Alum is mixed to remove the sediments. However, some sediments don't settle with the WHO prescribed levels of alum," the official said. He added that the sediments will settle down over time and turbid water might continue to flow for another 15 days but assured people that the water is safe to drink.

A resident of Sainikpuri, was alarmed when brown water began flowing out of the drinking water tap on Sunday morning. "We were not sure whether it was polluted water. The area's water board deputy manager has assured us that it's just because of mud. We boiled the water and drank it. So far, there seem to be no side effects," he said.

Simran, a resident of Malkajgiri, said she is unsure of drinking turbid water even if it is boiled. Her family is buying mineral water instead until they receive non-turbid water.

Janapriya Metropolis in Moti Nagar has also been receiving slightly brown water since the last two days.

Water from river Godavari is being supplied to Medchal, Malkajgiri, Kapra, AS Rao Nagar, Sainikpuri, Cherlapally, and a few other surrounding areas.