Residents of several high-rise societies in Noida's Sector 100x are raising alarms over a severe deterioration in their water quality. This comes after similar complaints were registered from residents in the 7x sectors. The primary concern is the dangerously high concentration of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in the tap water supply, which has persisted for weeks and poses significant health and appliance risks.
What is TDS and Why is it Dangerous?
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) is a measure of various inorganic salts and organic matter dissolved in water. This includes substances like hydrogen carbonate ions, chloride salts, sulphates, and magnesium. When consumed, water with excessively high TDS can lead to serious stomach ailments. It also has external effects, such as drying out skin and hair. Furthermore, the mineral buildup can cause significant damage to household appliances over time.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the permissible limit for TDS in drinking water is between 300 parts per million (ppm) and 600 ppm. Any sample reading over 1200 ppm is categorically deemed 'unacceptable' for consumption.
Residents Report Alarming Readings and Inadequate Supply
Since last month, TDS readings across multiple housing societies in the affected sectors have consistently ranged from 600 ppm to a staggering 1,500 ppm. This far exceeds the safety thresholds set by global health authorities.
Uday Jain, the AOA treasurer of Prateek Laurel in Sector 120, voiced the community's frustration. "For the past 15 days, we've been receiving water with a TDS level of 1,500 ppm," Jain stated. He emphasized that the onus is on the Noida Authority to provide residents with clean, low-TDS water.
This sentiment is widely shared. Gaurav Asati, the former AOA president of Amrapali Zodiac Society in Sector 120, noted that the issue of high TDS content has been a long-standing problem, not a recent glitch.
Ganga Water Supply Fails to Resolve the Crisis
Compounding the water quality issue is the insufficient supply of Ganga water, which was introduced to the area starting September 7. Residents report that this supply is neither consistent nor delivered with adequate pressure, failing to meet their daily needs.
Nikhil Singhal, president of the Noida HighRise Federation (NHRF) for the 100x sectors, highlighted the administrative failure. "We have written to the Authority multiple times regarding this," Singhal said. He criticized the current approach, urging officials to "ensure a proper water supply with adequate pressure, rather than focusing on a three-hour water supply just for formality."
The collective grievance from the residents underscores a dual crisis: the provision of water that is chemically unsafe and a distribution system that is logistically unreliable. As of now, a formal response from the Noida Authority on these pressing matters is still awaited, leaving thousands of residents in a state of concern over their most basic necessity.
