Coimbatore: Thousands of litres of drinking water is being wasted due to a faulty pressure regulator on a pipeline at Bommanampalayam on Tondamuthur Road.The pipeline, laid six months ago as part of the Thondamuthur Drinking Water Scheme, supplies water from Thekkampatti in Mettupalayam to areas such as Vedapatti.TOI found water gushing from the cover pipe attached to the valve on Monday. Making most of the situation, several people were collecting it in cans and bottles.Suresh Kumar, who was collecting water in cans, said it had been leaking since when the pipeline was laid. “People from the area use it to meet their immediate needs,” he said. “Plumbers had once repaired it and it was fine for a few days. But it started leaking again,” he said.Venkatachalapathy, who runs a shop near the spot, said he had informed about the leakage to the corporation workers, who had come to check the pipeline some time ago.“But they said the pipe was for releasing air, without which the underground lines will be damaged. The workers left it as it was,” he said.Some people also use the free water to take shower, local residents said, pointing to bits of soap lying near. Water from the leak runs through a drain and reaches a lake near Vedapatti, the residents said.Meanwhile, a Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board official promised to rectify it immediately. “We had let it as it was as the pipe helps in releasing excess pressure. But we will get the valve repaired soon,” he told TOI.

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