Indian Railways Launches Drive to Clean Drinking-Water Tanks
Zonal Railways told to inspect, disinfect and test water infrastructure across stations
- Special drive covers tanks, filters, coolers, taps and water vending machines.
- Drinking-water systems will undergo physical, chemical and bacteriological testing.
- Damaged tanks, pipelines and filters will be repaired or replaced.
- Station-wise deficiencies and corrective action will be monitored by Zonal Railways.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 24th Aug: Indian Railways has launched a special cleanliness and disinfection drive across its network to ensure the availability of safe and hygienic drinking water for passengers and railway personnel.
The initiative focuses on comprehensive inspection, cleaning, disinfection and maintenance of drinking-water infrastructure, including water tanks, filtration systems, coolers, taps, water booths and dispensing points.
Under the drive, Zonal Railways have been advised to inspect water sources, treatment and filtration plants, underground and overhead tanks, PVC tanks and water dispensing facilities. Drinking-water tanks will be drained, desludged, scrubbed and disinfected, while covers, vents and overflow points will be checked to prevent contamination from birds, animals and algae.
Damaged tanks, pipelines and filters will be repaired or replaced wherever necessary. Officials will also check drinking-water pipelines for leakages and ensure that potable and non-potable water systems have no cross-connections.
Water quality testing strengthened
The Railway Board has directed Zonal Railways to strengthen water-quality monitoring by testing water both at the source and at points of consumption rather than relying only on end-of-pipe testing.
Water samples will undergo physical, chemical and bacteriological testing at identified locations, including sources, post-treatment outlets, tanks, coolers, vending machines and representative taps or booths.
Daily residual-chlorine monitoring will also be undertaken. Re-chlorination or other corrective measures will be carried out wherever required.
Special attention will be given to drinking-water systems dependent on hand pumps and borewells to ensure that water remains free from contamination and suitable for consumption.
Coolers, RO and UV systems to be checked
The action plan also covers water coolers and purification systems. Tanks inside coolers will be cleaned thoroughly, while leakages in coolers, pipelines and taps will be addressed.
UV and RO purification systems will be checked for proper functioning and installed wherever required. Scheduled maintenance, servicing and replacement of filter candles and other components will be undertaken as necessary.
The same cleaning, purification and quality-monitoring requirements will apply to Water Vending Machines.
Station-wise monitoring of deficiencies
Railway Board has also directed Zonal Railways to expedite sanctioned works for replacing or constructing new overhead and underground water tanks.
Station-wise details of deficiencies identified during inspections and the corrective action taken will be compiled and monitored to ensure that shortcomings are addressed within a defined timeframe.
The measures will also extend to drinking-water infrastructure in Railway colonies and workplaces, taking the initiative beyond passenger areas.
Indian Railways said the coordinated drive will strengthen preventive inspection, infrastructure maintenance, cleaning and disinfection, water-quality testing and corrective-action mechanisms across its drinking-water network.
