SEWAGE WATER TURNS POTABLE IN KARNATAKA AFTER FLOWING 22 .3 KMS – SOUNDS INCREDIBLE, ISN’T IT? BUT TRUE.

A news item has appeared recently in the press  regarding sewage water transforming into potable water.  Have you ever heard about sewage water turning into potable one after flowing   for a considerable distance. Sounds incredible?  Isn’t it? But it is a reality that happened in Karnataka.  Understandably, it has created a sort of history hitherto unheard of. The details ensue.

The Minor Irrigation Project of Karnataka had undertaken a project to fill Doddakere lake in Hoskote which is a little over 22 kms away from Bangalore by diverting sewage water from Yelemallappa Shetty tank near KR Puram in Bangalore District.  This project was implemented very recently.  Can you believe that this has helped solve the drinking water problem completely of 60,000 and odd residents of Hoskote town and surrounding areas who are able to get clean drinking water round-the–clock now.  It is rather unprecedented. For the past two decades Doddakere remained dry. Similarly, the water table also got depleted to over 1250 feet in most parts of Hoskote resulting  in ground water rendering unfit  for consumption.  Also, farmers had to abandon  agriculture.

The situation has totally changed now for the better.  After the sewage water had flown for a distance of 22.3 kms to Hoskote, the ground water is available at 250 feet in Hoskote and 20 adjoining villages. Local body has begun supplying this water after mandatory treatment.  Chemical analysis was conducted by BMC College of Engineering, Bangalore which has shown that it is fit for agriculture.  Similarly, ground water samples  collected from borewells around the tank were tested and found to be potable. The water table in 30 villages had also gone up.

The explanation being given by the authorities for this phenomenon  is that sewage water has undergone natural cleaning during its flow from  Yelemallappa Shetty tank near KR Puram, Bangalore to Doddakere tank in Hoskote. Encouraged by this  pleasant experience, the Minor Irrigation Department has prepared another project near Sarjapura, Bangalore which envisages diversion of excess water mainly that of sewage water. Launching  of many such projects in different areas may follow aimed at enhancing  ground water level thereby tiding over the problem of shortage of water.