Hyderabad Sunnam Cheruvu Water Declared Unfit For Irrigation Use
New water quality reports from Sunnam Cheruvu in Hyderabad have raised serious alarms about its ecological health. Tests conducted by pollution control authorities from January to April show oxygen levels so low that the lake water is now unfit even for irrigation or bathing. Experts warn of severe contamination, while residents remain sceptical, sparking tensions between science, policy, and local perception.
Recent water quality tests show Sunnam Cheruvu’s dissolved oxygen (DO) levels consistently at 0.3 mg/l—dangerously below the ideal range of 6.5 to 8 mg/l. At these levels, aquatic life cannot survive. Authorities have categorised the lake under ‘Class E,’ indicating it is not suitable even for agriculture or recreation. Experts argue that such conditions signify a severely degraded water body requiring urgent, multi-pronged restoration efforts.
Accompanying indicators paint a bleak picture of the lake’s pollution. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) rose from 6 mg/l in January to 10 mg/l in April, showing a significant increase in organic matter likely from untreated sewage. The Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) surged from 76 to 119 mg/l, suggesting a growing influx of industrial or chemical pollutants. These figures show worsening contamination trends over just four months.
Other parameters, including high phosphate levels and conductivity, point to nutrient pollution likely fuelling algae blooms, which further reduce oxygen levels. Heavy metals such as cadmium, nickel, and lead were also detected in concerning quantities. While the pH remains within normal range, the cumulative data reflects a stagnant lake experiencing toxic overload with minimal fresh water inflow and poor ecological function.
Despite these findings, local resistance persists. Some residents dispute the results, claiming they have used the water without issue. Others allege political motives, linking the contamination narrative to recent demolitions and civic disputes. Environmentalists, however, stress that the science is clear: the lake has transformed from a seasonal recharge hub into a high-risk, contaminated site in urgent need of ecological intervention.
Sunnam Cheruvu’s contamination crisis underscores the larger issue of unregulated urban pollution. While local disbelief adds to governance challenges, the environmental data calls for swift, science-led solutions. Restoring the lake will require stopping pollution sources, treating inflows, and restoring water quality—tasks that demand cooperation from both authorities and communities. Without action, the lake’s ecological future remains grim and uncertain.
