The Society of Pollution and Environmental Conservation Scientists (SPECS) has undertaken the water quality testing campaign in Dehradun for the 17th year in a row. This year’s results reveal that most of the areas in Dehradun are not getting water fit for drinking. Besides high-level hardness, the presence of excess chlorine was found in most of the areas. Releasing a report here today, SPECS,Secretary, Dr Brijmohan Sharma said hardness of Dehradun water varied from locality to locality depending on the source of water. He said while a few localities received water from water bodies like Badal and Shikar falls, many were getting underground water resulting in different quality at different places. “The hardness varies 285 to 540 milligram per litre. Hard water causes many diseases like stones in kidney, hair loss, dry skin and gastro problems,” said Sharma. He said hardness could cause choking and erosion of pipelines in appliances like geyser and could result in an excess use of detergent and affect the life of clothes. Similarly, high chlorination was found in localities like Sewak Ashram road, Neshvilla road, Kanwali road, Khurbura and old Nehru colony. However, chlorination was found up to mark at Vijay Colony, Matamandir Road, Akash Deep Colony and Badrinath colony areas. He said more than 60 volunteers from SPECS took part in the campaign that was carried out in the last week of May. A total of 160 water samples from 60 wards of Dehradun were taken for study. The areas included posh colonies, VIP areas and slums of Dehradun. He said during their visits to localities, SPECS volunteers also came across problems like little drinking water availability and totally polluted water. Sharma said they would be meeting Chief Minister Harish Rawat tomorrow and submit the findings of the report to him. Localities without residual chlorine Salawala Ravindrapuri Aheer Mandi Brahman Wala Cheedowali Kenal Road Baba Inder Marg Sapera Basti Arya Nagar Adhoiwala Ambedkar Basti Krishan Nagar Sridev Suman Nagar Vijay Colony Ballupur Chowk Uddiwala Kaulagarh Danda Chuna Bhatta Road Mdda Colony Talwar Line Chlorination up to mark Vijay Colony Matamandir road Akash Deep Colony Ajabpur Kalan Balbir Road Laxman Chowk Vijay Park Chander Nagar Badrinath Colony Khurbura