Tapwater in old city very polluted, poses disease risk: Study

GURGAON: In a letter written to HUDA and MCG on Monday, Gurgaon's civil surgeon expressed grave concern about the suitability of the city's water supply, after water samples from all four old Gurgaon locations sent for bacteriological lab tests yielded results as unfit for human consumption.
According to the report (a copy is with TOI) sent by the Civil Hospital pathologist to the chief medical officer (CMO), water samples were sent for bacteriological examination on March 11.The results show all samples as unfit for human consumption. The samples were collected from a public tap in Sector 7, a house in Shiv Puri colony, a night shelter in Bhim Nagar and Madhav Bhavan in Sector 12.
On receiving the results, CMO Pushpa Bishnoi forwarded them in her letter to MCG and HUDA officials. "The bacterial content in the water was found unfit for human consumption and poses a risk of spread of water-borne diseases. I have urged the two bodies to ensure water is made fit for consumption," she said. Bishnoi explained that according to the test measures, if the samples yielded results between 0 to 2, it would be deemed fit for consumption. If the count was between 2 and 4, the sample would be graded mildly harmful. In this case, though, all samples had counts of 4 and above, which, according to Bishnoi, is unsatisfactory and deemed unfit for human consumption. She didn't give details of the kind of contamination or how these figures were computed.
According to sources, water to all four areas tested comes from New Township boosting station, which also supplies water to Krishna Colony, Jyoti Park, New Colony, Subhash Nagar I and II, Ratan Garden, Pratap Nagar, Baldev Nagar and Madanpuri.
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CMO Pushpa Bishnoi has urged HUDA & MCG to provide safe drinking water at the earliest, saying risk of water-borne diseases like jaundice, typhoid and cholera high.
New Township (NTS) station which supplies water to all four tested areas, also supplies Krishna Colony, Jyoti Park, New Colony, Subhash Nagar I & II, Ratan Garden, Pratap Nagar, Baldev Nagar, Madanpuri and Sector 7.