India’s Delhi Jal Board (DJB) closes two water treatment plants

India’s Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has closed two water treatment plants at Chandrawal and Wazirabad due to high levels of ammonia in the supply of raw water from the Yamuna river.

This decision by DJB will impact the supply of potable water supply in several parts of the Indian capital.

DJB Chairperson Kapil Mishra was quoted by The Indian Express as saying: "Levels of ammonia has increased to 1.8ppm."

The permissible level of ammonia in water is 0.5ppm.

The government of Delhi has taken up this issue with the government of Harayana state.

Mishra added: "The matter of pollutants entering the river course through the Panipat Drain has been taken up with the Haryana authorities concerned."

"If the level goes up, raw water cannot be treated.

"If the quantum of ammonia in raw water increases to 0.5ppm or mg/l and beyond, the operation of raw water has to be suspended as ammonia when mixed with the treating agent chlorine gives rise to Trihalomethane which is carcinogenic in nature."

The two water treatment facilities supply around 220 million gallons daily to several parts of central, north, northwest, west and central Delhi.

The closure is likely to impact these areas.

For the second time this year, the Indian capital’s water supply has been impacted due to high levels of ammonia.

Last month, the level of ammonia had gone up to 2.6ppm, which compelled the DJB to seek the Union government’s help.