Residents concerned as water from Yaragol Reservoir turns brown

Kolar
Residents of Bangarapet town and surrounding taluks of district are worried as the water supplied from the Yaragol Reservoir, which serves as a primary drinking water source, has started turning brown at the bottom when collected in containers.
The Yaragol Dam drinking water project was inaugurated last November by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to provide a stable water supply to the taluk. Since then, water from the reservoir has been treated by the municipal council and supplied to residents, alleviating previous water scarcity issues in the area. While the water appears clear, residents have noticed a brown tint at the bottom when stored in buckets or containers, causing concern about its quality.
The discoloration has also affected storage tanks and sumps, with brown sediment visible at the bottom. Additionally, residents report frequent breakdowns in household water purifiers, with many needing repairs every two months since the Yaragol water supply began.
When questioned by concerned citizens, municipal officials reassured them that the discoloration poses no health risk and explained that water sometimes appears this way at the beginning of a new supply system, which should clear up over time. However, citizens remain skeptical, as they had no issues when a mix of borewell and Yaragol water was supplied. The discoloration issue seems to occur only when Yaragol water is supplied on its own, reportedly three days a week.