Coimbatore: Because of the possibility of high water contamination during the rainy season, local bodies have launched a supchlorination of water supplied to households to prevent diseases from being transmitted through water.
While the chlorine residual two parts per million are considered as the best way to disinfect water, the local body has been asked to increase it to three to four parts per million in the overhead tank.
Water can be contaminated because of a pipe leak.
“The 13-block health office in the district has been asked to coordinate with Panchayats respectively to perform a superclorination,” Deputy Director of Health Services P Aruna said.
Water can contagce diarrhea, typhus and hepatitis-A, said pediatric surgeon Dr.
D Vijayagiri.
“It can also spread dull diseases, pose a threat to children and others.
While chlorination kills most of the bacteria, concentration should not be more than permissible boundaries, because it can cause other health problems,” he said.
At the 3-4PPM chlorine level, it was confirmed in the overhead tank, when the water reached the household, the level dropped to 0.2ppm, said an official of Sirumugai Panchayat.
“Health inspectors will regularly examine the PPM level to ensure that the water provided can be demanded,” he told TI.