Post by Brut India

Where does Puri's drinking water come from and what makes it one of the few cities in India where people can safely drink straight from the tap? In this final episode of Water: From Source to Tap, Puri Chapter, we trace the journey of water from the Bhargavi River to treatment plants, reservoirs, pipelines and finally to homes, hotels and public taps across the city. Along the way, we examine how Puri became India's first city to officially provide 24x7 drink from tap quality water, the technology and monitoring systems behind it, and the challenges that still exist beyond the city, from groundwater contamination to saline intrusion in coastal aquifers. From residents who once depended on iron-rich groundwater to public drinking taps serving lakhs of pilgrims every year, we explore how planning, treatment and regular testing have helped improve access to safe drinking water in a city with a relatively small population. This episode also brings together the lessons from all five cities we covered. While Puri offers an encouraging example, our journey through Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad shows that ensuring safe drinking water remains one of India's biggest urban challenges. This is the fifth and final chapter in our series investigating the reality of urban water in India, from source to tap.

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