Shimla’s long-standing drinking water problems are about to worsen as the capital confronts a new crisis caused by extremely high turbidity levels in its main water supply sources. Shimla Jal Prabandhan Nigam Limited (SJPNL), the organization in charge of the town’s drinking water, stated that turbidity in raw water sources has reached an alarming level of 7,000 to 8,000 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU), declaring the water unsafe for consumption.
Because of the region’s unrelenting rains, which have caused silt and debris to enter reservoirs and supply lines in large quantities, there has been an increase in turbidity. An SJPNL spokeswoman cautioned that “the situation could turn more severe if the downpour continues.”
In order to address the issue, the department has started cleaning operations at hoppers and tube settler chambers in an attempt to improve the quality of the water. However, officials acknowledge that the existing solutions are only meant to offer short-term respite until the rain stops.
Residents have been urged to be extremely cautious in the interim. To reduce the danger of water-borne illnesses, officials have recommended boiling the piped water before drinking. Additionally, residents have been urged to use rainwater for cleaning and other non-drinking uses.
The supply data highlight the severity of the issue. On Monday, Shimla got 0.69 million liters per day (MLD) from Gumma, 0.38 MLD from Giri, 0.97 MLD from Churot, 0.67 MLD from Seog, and 0.17 MLD from Koti Brandi. This amounts to a meager 5.67 MLD compared to the town’s daily demand of 45-48 MLD, which is only a fraction of what is required for its population.
