PANJIM: The incessant rains and rising water levels of rivers in North Goa have affected the water treatment plants of the Public Works Department (PWD), with Podocem facility being shut partially and others facing major issues due to high turbidity.

If the rains continue, the PWD expects more trouble at its facilities as the water from rivers has entered the pump houses and the treatment plants are running short of Aluminium Sulphate (alum) stock.

Officer on Special Duty to PWD Minister said due to continuous rains, the water level of Assonora River has increased substantially with water entering the 30 MLD pump house.

“The water is being pumped out and as of now we are keeping a tab on the situation,” he said.

The officer said that the turbidity of raw water of Valvanti River from where we are pumping to Podocem plant has gone up to 500 NTU. The plant is partially being operated.

“In a similar case, water turbidity has gone above 600 NTU at Dabose. With these unprecedented levels of turbidity at all the plants, the alum tendered stocks have been exhausted. We shall propose to procure on urgent basis by calling quotations separately for Bicholim and Dabose Water Treatment Plants by Monday,” he said.

On Friday, the official had said, there was a problem at 10 MLD water treatment plant a day before as IVC sluice valve next to the elevation pump burst and water splashed on the control panels and soaked the auto transformer.

“By 11 pm on Saturday, we managed to put one pump into operation. The standby pump motor has been sent to the workshop for heating and varnishing,” he said.

The auto transformer would be taken to the workshop again tomorrow for heating, varnishing and oil replacement. The control panel repairs would be attended to on Monday. They are trying their best to make the standby pump operational by Monday.

The Valvanti River, which passes through Sanquelim, has high turbidity due to release of water from Anjunem Dam.