Robots vs rusted pipes: How advanced tech traced a 40-year-old sewage leak sickening dozens in Bengaluru’s Lingarajapuram

For weeks, residents of Bengaluru’s Lingarajapuram area reported foul-smelling water and widespread waterborne illnesses, prompting authorities to investigate the source of contamination.

According to the residents of 3rd B Main Road in Lingarajapuram’s KSFC Layout, the problem came to notice some two weeks ago.

“More than 30 houses have been affected, but it came to the notice just two weeks ago after some of the residents started falling sick. As days went on, the water was visibly contaminated,” Krishna R, a resident of KSFC Layout, said.

Pushpa K Acharya, another resident, said the corrosion appears to have increased gradually, and the water’s colour changed over the last week. “Some of them are suffering from fever due to food poisoning. I got my sump cleaned after the incident. The pipes should have been replaced a long time ago, and there has been no regular check,” she added.

As residents began to complain about the contaminated water, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) stepped in, halted the water supply, and began investigating the cause.

To identify the source of drinking water contamination with precision and speed, BWSSB officials said they deployed the newly introduced advanced robotic technology alongside dedicated ground staff.

During the robotic inspection, the staff found that a rusted sewage pipeline was leaking and getting into the drinking waterline from one of the oldest houses in the area.

The property’s galvanised-iron sewage pipe, a standard material decades ago, had severely corroded. Since sewage and water pipelines ran adjacent to each other, the deteriorated pipe allowed sewage infiltration into the potable water supply.

Ram Prasath Manohar, Chairman, BWSSB, confirmed that the team of officials who were at work identified the leakage spot around 10.30 am Monday. “We are replacing the rusted pipe. It has been found that the pipe was 40 years old and had corroded,” Manohar added.

BWSSB replaced the ageing cast-iron main pipeline with modern ductile iron pipes along 3rd B Main Road. Additionally, authorities advised the affected families to replace their individual galvanised iron house connection pipes during the main pipeline upgrade to prevent future contamination and avoid repeated road excavations.

Residents were informed they would have to bear the costs of replacing their individual water pipeline connections.

The water supply to the area has been shut off since last Friday and is expected to resume once the new pipeline is laid. A BWSSB official said that the job would be completed by Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning.

Site engineers confirmed the pipeline replacement would conclude by Tuesday evening, after which fresh Cauvery water would flow through the new system.

During the repair period, BWSSB’s ‘Sanchari Cauvery’ tanker service proved instrumental in averting a water crisis. From Friday last week, affected households received free Cauvery water, contingent upon cleaning and disinfecting their contaminated storage sumps first.