KUKL plans to supply untreated water

Kathmandu Upathyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) plans to distribute 3.5 million liters of water to Kathmandu residents without treating it with chemicals to make it fit for drinking or purifying it.

According to Annapurna Post, KUKL will supply 3.5 million liters of untreated water daily to residents of ward nos 16, 17, 18, 26, 27 and 28 to supplement the increasing water woes.

The water is to be drawn through deep boring from Ikhapokhari and Kankeshori areas. Drawing of underground water has already begun at Ikhapokhari in Kshetraparti while work in underway at Kankeshori along the Bishnumari river. KUKL has sent the water from Ikahpokhari for tests.

The daily quotes KUKL officials as saying consumers will be informed about the supply of untreated water since treatment has been impossible for now due to shortage of budget. The effort has been made to meet the immediate need of water in the valley.

The underground water in Kathmandu valley has substantial amount of iron, ammonia, chloroform and arsenic making is impure for drinking.

The World Health Organisation standard says water having less than 0.1 mg of ammonia in a liter is safe for drinking. However, underground water in Kathmandu has 50 to 70 mg of ammonia per liter of water. Similarly, iron mixture has tested at 10 mg per liter against the WHO standard of 0.3 mg per liter of water. nepalnews.com ia June 17 08