Heavy silt in Pazhassi dam disrupts drinking water treatment
Heavy silt and turbidity caused by landslides in the catchment area have forced the suspension of water treatment at the Pazhassi dam in Kerala. Officials are monitoring the situation and expect to resume supply once water quality improves.
Why it matters
Climate-induced environmental events are increasingly disrupting essential public infrastructure and utility services.
Heavy silt inflow into the Pazhassi dam following intense rain and landslips in the catchment disrupted drinking water treatment, reducing water supply to parts of Kannur and adjoining areas on Sunday (August 2, 2026).
Kerala Water Authority (KWA) officials said the issue was not contamination but unusually high turbidity caused by excessive mud content in the raw water. They added that the water could be treated safely only after turbidity levels declined. At the Pazhassi water treatment plant, turbidity was measured at around 125 Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU), whereas efficient treatment is possible only when it falls below 50 NTU.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in