Is water safe for consumption in Shillong? A delegation of Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) met Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma in Shillong and submitted a report on its findings based on the test conducted by State Food Testing Laboratory, Commissionerate of Food Safety located at Pasteur Hills, Shillong.
The organisation collected water samples from 46 localities of Shillong, as they claimed that water in atleast 44 such localities are found to be contaminated while water in 2 localities found to be safe.
The FKJGP requested Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to address the issue related to the unsafe drinking water supply in 44 localities in Shillong city.
The water samples were collected on random sampling from 46 different localities across Shillong city by members of the FKJGP on August 22, following numerous complaints received on the quality of drinking water.
“The Report of water samples received from the State Food Testing Laboratory, Commissionerate of Food Safety, Pasteur Hills, Shillong depicts that out of the 46 (forty-six) different localities tested, 44 (forty-four) localities show presence of Coliform and E. coli organisms with low pH value, high turbidity, and iron content above the prescribed limit; which clearly indicates that the water collected and tested in these 44 (forty-four) localities is an unsafe water as per FSSAI standards. Hence, continuous consumption of such water can be detrimental to human health,” FKJGP president Dundee C Khongsit said in the memorandum.
He said that detection of low pH value in these water samples collected and tested indicates that the water is acidic in nature.
As per FSSAI standards, the normal pH value of drinking water ranges from 6.5 to 8.5 respectively. Below 6.5, the water is said to be acidic in nature.
Khongsit said as per research; when acidic water passes through water pipes, it can corode and damage them. If the pH of the water is extremely low, it can even start to dissolve the copper from the metal pipes. If copper enters our drinking water, it can to lead kidney and/or liver damage.
“It is true, drinking water that contains iron can be beneficial to your health. However, excessive iron in drinking water may have negative effects. Presence of high iron content in these water leads to an overload which can cause diabetes, hemochromatosis, stomach problems, nausea and damage healthy skin cells which may results in early onset of wrinkles. Besides, high iron content damage the liver, pancreas, and heart,” he said.
He said, “Similarly; high turbidity in drinking water can harbour microbial pathogens, which can be attached to particles and impair disinfection. Presence of faecal colifornms in water indicates that faecal contamination of the water by a warm blooded animal has occurred and this may cause several intestinal diseases in human. Pathogen like E coli can cause several diseases like Diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis, hemolytic uremic syndrome, respiratory illness, pneumonia, and other illnesses.
However, E. coli can also cause illnesses such as meningitis, septicemia, urinary tract, and intestinal infections which may be fatal in small children and the elderly and may even result in high mortality rate.”
Meanwhile, the FKJGP has urged the chief minister to immediately take steps to address the issue.
“Therefore, we urge the government to kindly address this public concern at the earliest and take necessary steps to rectify the issue to ensure safe and clean drinking water to our people,” Khongsit said. He also requested both the Municipal Board and Public Health Engineering department and localities to work together for the safety of the citizens.