Untreated sewage, effluents continue to pollute the Cauvery at Bhavani

Untreated household sewage and effluents from textile processing units continue to enter the Cauvery at Bhavani in the district, raising concerns over deteriorating water quality in one of the State’s most important rivers.

Sewage from houses located along the river is discharged directly into the Cauvery through open drains, while a few textile processing units are alleged to release untreated effluents into the river. At several locations, drains carrying domestic sewage flow into the Cauvery, contaminating the water.

The pollution assumes significance as the river is a major source of drinking water for several districts and the principal source of irrigation for the Cauvery delta. Environmentalists point out that the continuous discharge of untreated sewage and industrial effluents degrades water quality, increases the organic and chemical load, and affects the river’s ecological balance.