Not in the pink after drinking yellow water

Despite BMC's claims that the coloured water is not contaminated, cases of diarrhoea and cholera among residents are increasing

Even as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation reassured corporators and residents from various parts of the city that there is no cause to worry over the yellow water, patients are queuing up city hospitals with cases of diarrhoeau00a0 and cholera.

The worst hit is Bandra (East) where many patients have been admitted to the civic-run Bhabha Hospital. At least five patients from Bhabha were referred to Kasturba, a specialty hospital for infectious diseases.


The water released from Upper Vaitarna dam had a lot of algae which were treated with chlorine,
hence the colour

A doctor from Bhabha hospital said, "We have seen over 100 patients of diarrhoea.

Those suspected of cholera have been referred to civic-run Kasturba hospital in Chinchpokli after they tested positive in the hanging drop test (a preliminary test for cholera).

Particularly, people residing in Behraum Baug and Government Colony in Bandra East are complaining of the disease."

The BMC has alerted ward officials about the suspected contamination. Vinay Deshpande, BMC's chief hydraulic engineer, said, "The yellow water has been tested and is fit for consumption. But to check the sources of contamination, we have assigned ward-level inspectors."

Dr Hemant Thacker, general physician attached to Jaslok and Breach Candy Hospitals, said, "I received two patients who tested positive for cholera and referred them to a civic hospital recently.

Apart from that, I get five to six cases of diarrhoea daily. In the past, we haven't received diarrhoea cases so frequently"

Doctors are also concerned over the number of cases landing in the hospital because of other complications that mire cholera cases.
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Thacker added that recently a 55-year-old who tested positive for cholera suffered from severe dehydration leading to blood thickening.

Owing to the thickness, the patient suffered a minor heart attack and had to be admitted in the intensive care unit.

Echoing a similar view, Dr Pratit Samdani, St George Hospital, medicine department, said, "There were two patients who had tested positive in the hanging drop test.
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There are patients who are developing allied complications like temporary renal failure because of acute dehydration."

"There is water contamination at various areas in the city so people should boil drinking water for 20 minutes. Also avoid mineral water or filter water.

Those suffering from rice water stools should immediately report to the doctor," warned Dr Samdani adding that the cases are severe in nature.

Why yellow?

After the rains the BMC had released large amounts of water from Upper Vaitarna dam which has a lot of weed and algae. When treated with chlorine at Bhandup Complex, the chlorine mixes with the water to from a new compound, a hydrated iron oxide, which is causing the water to turn yellow.

An official from the Hydraulic Engineering Department said, "The water is fit for consumption. But for a third party test, we have sent samples to independent laboratories like Geochem and VJTI. The results from Geochem show the water is potable."

Testing waters

Two types of tests are conducted on a water sample-Potability test: which checks the odour, colour, level of compounds like chlorides and nitrites, and the acidic nature of the water.

Bacteriological tests: to find out the presence of bacteria like E. coli.

Labs conducting tests:

Dadar Lab: Most of the testing is being carried out at the laboratory in Dadar's ward office. "Usually we test around 150 water samples a day but since the yellow water situation, 50 additional samples are bought in daily," said an official.

Around 54 officials including chemists and microbiologists check water from swimming pools and residential places. The lab charges private residents sending in samples between Rs 100- Rs 350 for the tests.

Bhandup Lab and Panjrapur Lab: Water from Vaitarna, Tansa and Modak Sagar lakes enter the Bhandup treatment plant whereas water from Bhatsa comes to Panjrapur for treatment. Around 70 staffers working in different shifts monitor the levels of compounds in the water and treat it accordingly.

At the treatment plants, water is purified in four stages:
Pre chlorination (to destroy bacteria present in the lake water), Sedimentation (collagen added for purification), Filtration (to remove suspended solutes) and Post-chlorination

Inputs by Rinkita Gurav

Strategic measure
The chief engineer of hydraulic engineering department, V P Deshpande, suggested the need for toxicity analysers to measure the toxicity of the water. "We would put in tenders this year for analysers to be installed near treatment plants and reservoirs. The precaution is carried out so that the anti-social elements like terrorists don't add any toxic substance in the water."