Proper handling of spring water crucial for public health: PHE
Srinagar, Jan 30: The PHE Department of Kashmir said on Thursday that proper management of local spring water is crucial to ensuring public health in the valley.
Speaking with Rising Kashmir, Chief Engineer of PHE Kashmir, Braham Jyoti Sharma, highlighted the ongoing concerns about water quality, urging residents to be cautious about consuming untreated spring water. This comes in the wake of a recent health advisory issued for Ganderbal and rural Srinagar areas due to contamination found in local water bodies.
Sharma explained that the primary issue is the lack of proper management of local springs by the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department. “The local springs, which people rely on for daily use, are not adequately tapped by PHE. Instead, locals often use this water for washing clothes, utensils, or for fieldwork, leading to contamination,” Sharma said. He stated that without the department’s intervention, the water sources remain unprotected, resulting in unsafe water that poses health risks to the public.
To address these concerns, the PHE department has been taking steps to properly store and chlorinate water from local springs before it is distributed to the public. “We ensure that water is stored, filtered, and chlorinated to meet safety standards before distribution,” Sharma assured. He also reiterated that the recent health advisory is not intended to alarm residents but to encourage safer water consumption practices.
“The advisory is for the betterment of the people,” Sharma said, stressing the importance of using PHE piped water for drinking. “PHE water is available in most places and is safe for consumption,” he added. However, Sharma noted that spring water can still be utilized for other uses like cleaning or washing, provided it is first ensured to be free from contamination.
Sharma further proposed the introduction of water metering as a way to ensure equitable water distribution and discourage waste. “Metering will raise awareness about the need to conserve water and will encourage responsible usage. The water saved in this way can be redistributed to areas with less supply,” he said.
This advisory comes after recent testing of water samples from 37 springs in Ganderbal and Srinagar, which revealed harmful bacteria, prompting the authorities to warn residents against consuming untreated spring water. (RK)
