CHENNAI: Metrowater engineers have found new contaminants in the water bodies from where water is supplied to the city residents after treatment. These include chemical residues from drugs and caffeine.A senior Metrowater official said, sewage mixing, dumping of solid waste, construction debris and plastic waste are generally the main pollutants. Through drains, these waste get into water bodies. “Now, caffeine and chemical residues have entered water bodies. The presence of these pollutants came to light during a recent study done by the officials. The lifestyle changes have resulted in the release of these pollutants into the water bodies/reservoirs,” the officer said.At present these emerging pollutants are in a treatable level. If they continue to get accumulated in the water bodies it will have an adverse impact on health, the officer said. Continuous monitoring of water bodies is one of the ways to control the level. Water samples have to be collected and tested periodically. The samples should be sent to the IITMadras laboratory and King Institute, Guindy, for testing the biological parameters, the officer said.Water testing parameters mainly include colour, odour, turbidity, pH value, total suspended solids and faecal contamination. Now Metrowater has included 39 more testing parameters. The water in the Sikkarayapuram quarries was tested for 45 defined parameters before being sent to the treatment plant on a trial basis. Water samples from this quarry were sent to IIT-Madras laboratory and King Institute for checking the biological parameters, the officer said.Another Metrowater official said not all the private water supply companies conduct checks for all the 45 defined parameters.When new water projects are launched, the water from those places will be tested for the 45 defined parameters before sending them to treatment plants, he said, adding only after completing the tests and remediation, the water will be supplied to the residents.

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