Manoranjan Singh, RWA head, points to the murky water stored in an underground tank in Hauz Khas. (Praveen Khanna)Despite the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) having undertaken repair work and assuring that the water contamination woes will be resolved soon, residents of Hauz Khas in South Delhi on Wednesday continued to raise concerns over the quality of tap water — with some households even sending samples for lab tests.The latest complaints have added to the water woes being faced by the Capital in various parts this summer.The Indian Express reported on June 15 that several upscale colonies in South Delhi have been reeling under severe water-related issues, including contamination and shortage. Ageing pipelines, leakages and operational stress on the city’s water network have emerged as key reasons behind recent such incidents reported in areas including Gulmohar Park and Sarvodaya Enclave.Last week, at Hauz Khas, DJB officials said the water contamination concerns are being addressed on priority and will be fixed in a few days.Fresh complaints have now emerged from parts of Z Block of Hauz Khas and adjoining areas, where residents claimed “muddy”, “cloudy” and “foul-looking” water continued to flow through taps over the past week. While some have switched entirely to bottled water, others are awaiting lab test reports before resuming use of tap water supply.Veronica Francis, a resident of Hauz Khas, said the quality of water fluctuated over the past several days. “For the last six to seven days water supply in the morning has been streaked with swirls of black, which eventually dissolve in water. Before that it was cloudy, then clear for a couple of days, and then dirty again,” she said. Francis said she had sent samples from both her main water tank and the drinking water outlet in her kitchen for testing and would continue using mineral water until the results confirm the water is safe.Manoranjan Singh, chief of the federation of RWAs in Hauz Khas, said the issue has not been fully resolved despite ongoing repair work in the area. Residents are worried about the quality of water reaching their homes and the condition of underground storage tanks, he said.Story continues below this adAnjali Gupta, a Y-Block resident and an RWA member, described the situation as a “public health emergency”, alleging that multiple colonies reported water contamination, foul smell, shortage and flagged health concerns over the past two weeks. She said residents reported cases of diarrhoea, stomach infections, vomiting and severe stomach aches, adding that some families eventually opted for bottled water and tanker supplies. Gupta also said that it is important to know whether ageing pipelines alone could explain the contamination. “If old pipes were solely responsible, why did contamination appear to move from one block to another, while neighbouring streets continued receiving relatively clean water?” she said, adding that residents were seeking greater transparency on the source of contamination, water quality testing and infrastructure repairs.Residents have also raised concerns over water usage at under-construction properties during shortage. Gupta said several builder floor projects appeared to continue construction activities despite widespread dependence on tanker water, also prompting people to wonder if all such sites were sourcing water through authorised means.A DJB official, meanwhile, attributed the issues primarily to ageing infrastructure. “We found broken pipes… those were very old. There is only one more point where repair work is pending now. In a few days, the issue will definitely be resolved,” the official said. The official also noted that poorly executed ferrule connections done by plumbers can sometimes contribute to leakages and contamination.Sophiya Mathew is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in New Delhi. She joined the Delhi bureau in 2024, and has specialization in Integrated Multimedia Journalism from the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai. Professional Background Core Beats: Her reporting is primarily focused on the Environment and Education. Specialization: She has gained recognition for her ground-level reporting on the Yamuna floodplains and the socio-economic challenges faced by those living on its banks. She also focuses on the disparities in Delhi's education system, ranging from elite private schools to government institutions and refugee education. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent work has been heavily centered on Delhi's severe winter pollution crisis and the government's regulatory responses: 1. The Air Pollution Crisis "A tale of two cities: Delhi govt schools choke in bad air, private classrooms set up air filters" (Dec 20, 2025): A high-impact feature contrasting the "Clean Air Bubbles" in elite schools with the reality of government school students who are exposed to an equivalent of 17 cigarettes a day due to outdoor exposure. "Delhi sees season's worst air day, second worst December AQI in nearly a decade" (Dec 15, 2025): An analytical report on the meteorological patterns trapping pollutants in the NCR. "Delhi bans non-BS VI vehicles from outside: Why curbing vehicular pollution is key" (Dec 17, 2025): Explaining the science behind targeting specific vehicle vintages to lower particulate matter. 2. Enforcement & Regulations "No fuel at pumps in Delhi without valid PUC certificate from December 18" (Dec 17, 2025): Breaking the news on the environment ministry's strict "No PUC, No Fuel" policy. 3. Education Policy "Law to regulate school fee in Delhi risks becoming procedural, say parents" (Dec 13, 2025): Investigating the loopholes in the new Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025. "Monsoon Session: Private school fee regulation Bill cleared after four-hour debate" (Aug 9, 2025): Covering the legislative passage of the controversial fee hike regulation. Signature Style Sophiya is known for her observational depth. Her reporting often includes vivid details from school corridors, hospital waitlists, or the banks of the Yamuna to illustrate how policy failures affect the city's most vulnerable residents. She is a frequent expert guest on the 3 Things podcast, where she explains the complexities of Delhi’s environmental laws. X (Twitter): @SophiyaMathew1 ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on InstagramTags:Delhi Jal BoardNew Delhi