Volume 15 | Issue 16
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Deadly E.coli bug found, thousands at risk Observer investigation reveals water samples sent for testing contain human faeces and superbug EXCLUSIVE Mathew Joy Mathew Groundwater serving five panchayats in rural Bangalore contains E.coli, we can reveal. Borewell water serving the panchayats is causing skin, breathing and intestinal health issues, according to doctors battling to treat hundreds of afflicted villagers. The Daily Observer collected samples of the groundwater and had them tested at a private laboratory. The results are horrific. We sent the samples to test for potability on November 19, and the results came out on the November 26 showing presence of E.Coli. The Vrishabhavathi is a tributary of the Akravathy River and runs parallel to Mysore Road. It has been nicknamed “Kengeri Mori” – the Kengeri Drain – by locals who use it as a fast flowing garbage disposal system. Industrial pollutants and waste products are also routinely tipped into the river and officials have been struggling to make its waters safe for the past decade. High levels of toxic pollutants such as arsenic and zinc have already been found in the groundwater. A Bangalore Water & Sewerage Board treatment plant “treats” only 30 per cent of the water that passes through it, and even then the effect is negligible, according to a recent report. Even the coconuts growing by the river are polluted, say locals.Samples taken from the river by our reporter and given to an independent testing lab-
Vrishabhavati river flowing towards Byramangala Village. Testing showed presence of E.coli in the river oratory in the city have revealed that E.coli is present in the borewell water the villagers depend upon. The test results also shows ‘turbidity’- cloudiness caused by particles – of 21.2 per cent when the legally permissible limit is just 5per cent. Calcium, magnesium and chlouride levels were all higher than expected norms. Coliform bacteria, caused by human faeces, were also present. Doctors in Byramangala say they routinely see skin and breathing problems caused by the river’s waters, which are drawn through a series of borewells serving the five pan-
The borewell that distributes water to the village; samples were taken from this borewell
chayats and 100 villages in the area. The residents know not to drink the water but still it for all other domestic purposes, including washing themselves and their food. The only source of drinking water for his village is either the water purifier installed by Toyota or Kaveri water supply in the main road. Both are several kilometres away. Narasimha Murthy, a farmer in Byramangala village, has been aware of the issue for 10 years and struggles to find safe water. He also claims that he and other farmers who use the Vrishabhavathi water for irrigation are in poor health because of it. Arun, a medical shop owner, said, “Most medicines sold are for skin allergies.” Sreevani B.K, a 22-year-old worker at the nearby Coca Cola plant, said: “For the last two months, more than half of the village is suffering from severe bone pain." Prema, a 38-year-old juvenile health assistant, added: “Skin diseases, typhoid, are common among kids. The excess calcium related problems and wheezing can be related directly to the water. Every house is affected by this. “The government neglects water purification for the village. Even my 14-year-old son is not healthy because of living
here." Anushree, the mother of one-year-old Supriya, said: “She is suffering from fever and vomiting. Bangalore water troubles us.” Anushree says she uses the water only for household purposes. Abhinaya, a 20-year-old engineering student, said he constantly suffers from joint pain and fever. “The polluted ground water causes health problems for the entire locality,” he added. Prakash, a Panchayat office employee who was brought up in Byramangala, also faces lack of potable water and health problems. He says that his family of five has faced typhoid, skin problems and breathing problems. He added that the evenings in the villages are very hard as mosquito density is very high. Dr Raju of Byramangala PHC, (Primary Health Centre) who has been working there for the last year, said that there are frequent cases of respiratory problems because of the pungent smell of the water body. He added that there are a high number of skin diseases, typhoid and joint pain which he feels are connected to poor water supply. Dr Raju also points out that there should be measures taken immediately to keep a check on mosquito density as once malaria breaks out in the
area it would be hard to contain it. Dr Raju and Dr M.B Chitra who was the previous doctor at Byramangala also feel that there is lack of medical staff at the village PHCs. The Panchayat of Chowkahalli has 31 villages with only four purifiers for them, confirm Prakash C.P a panchayat member. According to research conducted by the Department of Environmental Studies at Kuvembu University, the water of Vrishabhavathi River has high readings of Lead, Chromium, Manganese and Iron which makes it unsuitable for drinking or irrigation. L. Gururaj, Executive Engineer, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board said, “ Nearly 4800 crore is to be funded by the government. We have not recieved the fund,” He added, “Who will pay the money for anything to be done about the river.” E.coli is a waterborne organism that if left unchecked can lead to death. It is usually found in human and animal faeces. The common symptoms of the disease are nausea, severe abdominal cramps, fatigue, and fever. Children under the age of five, the elderly and patients suffering from immunocompromised diseases such as cancer and AIDS are at a greater risk.