NAMAKKAL: The Cauvery river, the main source of water for most parts of the state, is facing a serious threat from the untreated industrial effluents, particularly from dyeing units and sewerage, being let into it.

On a stretch of about 80 km in the district, two municipalities and five town panchayats contribute hugely to the contamination of the river water. Nearly 10 million litres of sewage is let into the Cauvery by Kumarapalayam and Pallipalayam municipalities, while a half of that quantity flows into the channels that connect the river from town panchayats -Venkarai, Paundamangalam, Velur, Pothanur and Mohanur situated along the banks.