VALPOI
The discovery of mud and dirt inside a drinking-water storage tank at Keri has brought renewed focus on the cleanliness and security of water storage facilities across Sattari.
Following concerns raised by residents, the Water Supply Department has reportedly begun inspecting water tanks at various locations in the taluka and has initiated steps to clean tanks that have not been maintained regularly.
Senior officials have instructed concerned officers to pay special attention to the condition and security of the tanks. The exercise is expected to cover cleanliness, storage conditions and measures to prevent unauthorised access.
Keri incident raises concern
Several villages in Sattari depend on storage tanks as part of the drinking-water distribution network. Treated water from the Dabose Water Treatment Plant is supplied through pipelines to different villages, with storage tanks serving as an important link in the system.
Around two months ago, mud and dirt were reportedly found inside a drinking-water storage tank in the Keri area. The incident caused concern among residents, who questioned how such material had entered a tank used for storing drinking water.
The tank was subsequently cleaned. However, the incident also raised questions about the security of water storage facilities.
Security checks needed
Apart from cleaning the tanks, residents have called for proper inspection of their entrances, covers and locking arrangements.
Officials need to check whether tank covers are secure, whether locks are functioning properly and whether unauthorised persons can gain access to the facilities. The surroundings of the tanks should also be inspected as part of the exercise.
The Water Supply Department has reportedly begun a survey of water storage tanks across Sattari. Instructions have also been issued to clean tanks that have not undergone maintenance for a considerable period.
The exercise should include the removal of accumulated silt, mud and other material, besides checking the internal condition of tanks, covers, entrances and pipeline connections.
Dabose plant to village tanks
The Dabose Water Treatment Plant is an important part of Sattari's water-supply network, with treated water supplied to several villages.
However, treatment at the plant alone cannot ensure the quality of water reaching consumers if storage facilities are not properly maintained. Regular cleaning, water-quality testing and inspection of storage tanks therefore need to form part of the overall maintenance system.
Water storage tanks and related facilities are located in several villages, including Dabose, Valpoi, Kudse, Savarde, Guleli, Padeli, Mauxi, Zarme, Bibem, Keri, Ravona, Morlem, Bhironda, Velge, Catorim, Sonal, Shir, Karmale, Kumthol and Nagargaon.
Residents have called for the condition of all such facilities to be assessed rather than limiting the exercise to the Keri tank.
Residents have reportedly been seeking regular cleaning of drinking-water storage tanks for several years. They have raised concerns that inadequate maintenance could lead to the accumulation of silt, mud and other material.
They have suggested that tank cleaning should follow a fixed schedule instead of being undertaken only after complaints or incidents. The department could maintain records showing when each tank was last cleaned and when its next maintenance is due.
Digital database proposed
Given the size of Sattari's water-supply network, residents have also called for a panchayat-wise digital database of all water storage tanks.
Such a database could record the location and condition of each tank, cleaning dates, pending repairs and the status of security arrangements. It could also help officials monitor maintenance and identify facilities requiring attention.
Drinking-water supply is closely linked to public health, making the condition of storage infrastructure an important part of the distribution system.
Residents have therefore called for regular water-quality testing, tank cleaning, silt removal, repair of covers, proper locking arrangements, access control and inspection of pipeline connections.
The Keri incident has brought attention to the need for a comprehensive review of water storage facilities across Sattari. Residents are now seeking a systematic survey and regular maintenance programme to ensure that the tanks remain clean, secure and fit for storing drinking water.
