The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : 19 borewells contain e-coli

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Tuesday, Feb 05, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

19 borewells contain e-coli

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: Water samples from 19 out of the 46 borewells in Bharathinagar have tested positive for Escherichia Coli bacteria, a result of sewage seeping into ground water, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) said on Monday. Incidentally, potable water must not contain any traces of e-coli.

While reports of water contamination and outbreak of gastroenteritis from the area started pouring in on January 27, the BWSSB took samples for testing only on February 1.

“We still do not know whether broken sewer lines are the reason for sewage to mix with ground water. As a precautionary measure, we have disconnected the lines and taken away the hand pumps,” BWSSB Chief Engineer (Quality Control) Vasudevan told The Hindu. It has started providing water through its tankers.

The BWSSB will, for the first time, test ground water from all the 3,000 borewells across the city for contamination for the next four days.

Dug over the last 20 years by different agencies such as Karnataka Slum Clearance Board and Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, the responsibility for the maintenance now lies with the BWSSB.

The BWSSB has also started a drive to clean all the 1,20,000 manholes in the city.

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