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5th Annual Konkan Fruit Fest
Promenade, D B Bandodkar Road, Panaji, Goa
16-18, May 2008
http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2008-May/073789.html
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Wells found contaminated around Panaji
17 May 2008, 0418 hrs IST,TNN
PANAJI: High levels of coliform organisms and ammonia have been detected
in four of the five wells in Chincholem, a city suburb and Shankarwadi,
Taleigao but the health authorities will conduct a second testing of the
water to determine whether the contamination orginates from underground
sources.
The chemical and bacteriological report of samples taken by the health
department's sanitary inspector revealed that barring one, the remaining
had coliform organisms, ammonia and nitrites.
While the water should be free of these bacteria and nitrates, one of
the sources had high levels of ammonia - 2 mg per litre. "Organic matter
like leaves and husk can decompose to form nitrites," P B S Hede,
scientific officer said, "it may arise from not cleaning the sources."
Three wells near Pimpaleshwar Mandir in Chincholem and one in Taleigao
have been polluted and the people have been directed not to source the
water for drinking, though it is okay for other uses, according to
sanitary inspector, Anil Killedar.
After complaints of pollution of the water were received, the health
authorities pumped out all the water from the sources and disinfected
them.
Suspicions of pollution were first aroused by the dead fish floating on
the surface and the gradually increasing stink of the water sources.
The possibility of the pollution being caused by seepage of sewage is
strong, as sewage proteins are converted first into ammonia, and the
bacteria oxidation leads to nitrites and then to nitrates. This is part
of nitrogen cycle, a microbiologist said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Goa/Wells_found_contaminated_around_P
anaji/articleshow/3047843.cms
~(^^)~
Avelino
