Why are Gurgaon residents avoiding tap water?

Residents avoid tap water due to concerns about contamination from old, leaky pipelines and poorly maintained water boosting stations.

What is being done about Gurgaon's water quality issues?

Officials state they are increasing checks and trying to improve infrastructure, but residents report ongoing problems with pipeline and boosting station maintenance.

How does water contamination happen in Gurgaon?

Contamination occurs through old pipelines crossing sewer lines, leakages, neglected boosting stations, and intermittent supply allowing entry of impure water.

Home / Health / Gurgaon's water: Decades-old pipes, growing risk

Gurgaon's water: Decades-old pipes, growing risk

12 Jan

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Summary

Aging pipelines and neglected boosting stations pose contamination risks.
Residents buy bottled water due to distrust of tap water quality.
Division of responsibilities hinders effective water management.

Gurgaon's water: Decades-old pipes, growing risk

Gurgaon's water supply system faces significant contamination risks stemming from decades-old pipelines and neglected infrastructure. Many residents, like Kamal Bhalla, have resorted to purchasing drinking water due to a lack of trust in the tap supply. The city's water boosting stations, critical for distribution, often show signs of disrepair, including stagnant water and garbage, increasing contamination hazards. Intermittent water supply further compounds the problem, allowing contaminants to enter pipelines when pressure drops.

The division of responsibility between the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) and the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) for water distribution has created vulnerabilities. While GMDA manages bulk supply, MCG oversees internal networks. This leads to issues like old pipelines running alongside or crossing sewer lines, especially in unplanned areas. A past incident in December last year saw over 100 residents fall ill due to coliform contamination in their drinking water, underscoring the severity of the problem.