Water samples tell shocking story

Nearly 4-Fold Jump In The Presence Of Dreaded Bacteria

 

Mumbai: The BMC’s water supply to the parched metropolis has a murkier side to it. Water samples collected by the municipal corporation from across the city in February had a shocking story to tell. Out of 1,987 samples, 36 contained the dreaded bacteria, E coli—a nearly four-fold jump in the number of contaminated samples collected in January.
    “The situation has worsened if the result is compared with the January samples. Out of the total 2,143 samples collected last month, only 10 confirmed the presence of the bacteria,’’ an official said.
    The civic officials, who failed to provide a reason, said that the level of contamination will only increase as the months progressed. “It (the contamination) is usually at its peak during the monsoon months (June-August),’’ an official said, attributing the current problem to increasing number of leaks in pipelines.
    “The problem starts when the century-old corroded water pipelines spring a leak. Water from drains and sewage lines then enters the watersupply pipelines. This results in contamination,” said a civic official.
    A recent Right To Information (RTI) query had revealed that there were as many as 1,031 cases of pipe bursts or leaks in 2009. But officials said in the absence of modern equipment, it was difficult to locate the leak. “BMC’s failure to acquire ground penetration radar, which can provide a detailed picture of the problem, is also seen as one of the reasons why water gets contaminated,’’ a source said.
    “If the number of contaminated samples are to increase, we may have a problem on our hands. Our water department is taking all temporary precautions, including chlorination and flushing,” said executive health officer, BMC, G T Ambe.
E COLI REARS ITS UGLY HEAD IN THE METROPOLIS
January | Out of 2,143 samples , 10 confirmed the presence of the dreaded bacteria, E coli February | Out of 1,987 samples, 36 contained the bacteria—a nearly four-fold jump
Why
The problem starts when the century-old corroded water pipelines spring a leak. Water from drains and sewage lines then enters the water-supply pipelines. This results in contamination A recent RTI query had revealed that there were as many as 1,031 cases of pipe bursts or leaks in 2009
What is E Coli?
E coli is short for Escherichia coli—a bacteria that causes diarrhoea and other water-borne illnesses. Patients generally suffer from severe cramps and vomiting. “The symptoms are worse in children and older people, and is more common during the summer and monsoon months when people consume contaminated water,’’ a doctor said.
Worst-affected areas
Parts of Byculla, Marine Lines, Vikhroli, Ghatkopar and Elphinstone Road. Maximum contamination was reported in the slum pockets of Chembur, Bandra (east) and Kurla