Water supply disruption expected in parts of Delhi

Water Supply Disruption in Delhi

Parts of south, southeast, and north Delhi will experience significant water supply disruptions due to two incidents affecting major treatment plants, according to Delhi Jal Board (DJB) officials on Monday.

Affected Areas

Key areas in south Delhi include Greater Kailash, Lodhi Colony, Lajpat Nagar, Khan Market, Jor Bagh, Sarita Vihar, and South Extension. In north Delhi, the areas between Rithala and Rohini assembly constituencies are likely to be impacted.

Incident Details

An 800mm supply line from the Haiderpur Water Treatment Plant has been damaged, affecting supply until the morning of January 8. DJB officials stated, “Technical teams have been mobilised and repair work is in progress on a war footing basis. Due to deep water lines and site constraints, the repair work is likely to take more than 24 hours.” Affected areas include multiple sectors in Rohini (15 through 19), Rithala, Samaypur, Badli, Siraspur, and nearby colonies. DJB has advised residents to contact water emergency services for tankers.

Maintenance Shutdown

A major maintenance shutdown at the Sonia Vihar Water Treatment Plant will affect supply in south and southeast Delhi on January 5 and 6. The 140-million-gallon-per-day plant supplies a wide area. Areas likely to be impacted include Kailash Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, Patparganj, Okhla, Zakir Nagar, Batla House, DESU Colony, Siddharth Enclave, Bharti Nagar, Rabindra Nagar, Khan Market, Kaka Nagar, Aliganj, Jor Bagh, Lodhi Colony Flats, Nizamuddin, Ambedkar Nagar, Shahpur Jat, South Extension, Kotla Mubarakpur, and Lajpat Nagar.

Advice for Residents

DJB advises residents to store sufficient water in advance during the shutdown period.

Concerns Over Water Quality Testing

Earth Warriors, an NGO focused on climate change and sustainability, wrote to DJB and government officials on Monday, highlighting issues in the water quality testing system in Delhi. This comes amid concerns over water contamination in Indore that led to several deaths.

The letter noted that Delhi faces similar vulnerabilities, as shown by recurring contamination and a rise in cholera cases. It claimed that only one out of 25 DJB water quality testing labs is accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). The NGO stated, “DJB claims to test lakhs of samples annually—1,700 daily—but the procurement of essential chemicals does not align with reported volume. These tests are being performed using obsolete methodologies.”

The NGO urged the water utility and government to investigate the current water quality monitoring system, establish independent water quality secretariats as per the Jal Jeevan Mission, and issue new standard operating procedures for addressing water contamination. They also called for a comprehensive water quality survey of Delhi to identify vulnerable areas.

Summary of Water Supply Disruptions