High content of manganese detected in Selaulim reservoir of Goa

High content of manganese was detected by the State Public Works Department (PWD) in Selaulin reservoir of Goa on 19 April 2014. The level of manganese detected in the reservoir was 0.1 mg. This is less than the level of manganese content detected earlier and is within safe limit.

Earlier in July 2012, PWD had restricted supply of drinking water from the reservoir when the level of manganese had increased six folds. It increased from the usual 0.5 mg to 3.0 mg. The reason for the increase in the level of manganese content was mining dumps stacked along side the rivers feeding water to the reservoir are getting washed into due to rains.

Goa Legislative Assembly's adhoc committee on forests had in the past suggested that water quality in Selaulim dam be monitored as mining rejects from nearby dumps flow into it.

Selaulin reservoir located at Sangeum in South Goa supplies potable drinking water to more than half of the population of Goa. At the reservoir around 160-180 million metric tonnes of water is processed daily.