The officials earlier stated that power cuts in the area affected the filtration process and led to an increase in manganese levels, which then led to turbidity in the water. Attempts are being made to undertake double filtration and set up a mechanism to combat the frequent power cuts.
They also said the manganese issue was an annual one and it had not crossed permissible limits. They added that the output levels at the plant were already returning to normal.
Iron ore and manganese dumps in the area mix with rainwater and flow into the Selaulim reservoir in the form of sludge. Incidentally, the water treatment plant located near the Selaulim Dam in Sanguem supplies treated water to Mormugao, Salcete, Quepem and Sanguem. Locals made numerous complaints about the decreased water supply over the weekend were made to the PWD department.
