Pollution Watchdogs Disagree on Delhi Sewage Plant Performance

Two groups that check if water is clean in Delhi found very different things about the sewage treatment plants.

One group, the CPCB, said that all 37 plants failed to clean the water properly in June.

They found too many tiny germs and other bad stuff in the water that was supposed to be cleaned.

But the other group, the DPCC, said that most of these same plants were actually doing a good job.

This is confusing because both groups looked at the plants around the same time.

The CPCB's report came out later and said that many plants had way too much Fecal Coliform, which is a type of bacteria.

They also found high levels of ammonia and other waste.

The DPCC's reports said many plants were okay, though they did mark a few as not meeting standards.

The DJB, which runs the plants, suggested that the CPCB tested more things and that their own labs are not fully trusted, which might explain some differences.

Scientists are concerned because the results are so different, and it's important to know if Delhi's sewage is being cleaned correctly before it goes back into the river or drains.