In a alarming development from Indore, groundwater samples collected from the Bhagirathpura area have tested positive for faecal coliform, the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (PCB) has confirmed. This finding comes in the wake of a severe contamination incident where sewage-mixed drinking water led to fatalities and hospitalized hundreds, raising grave concerns about the safety of the city's water sources.
Extent of Contamination Beyond Pipelines
The PCB's investigation involved collecting around 50 water samples from affected localities including Bhagirathpura, Kulkarni Ka Bhatta, and Shivshakti Nagar. Samples were drawn from both the Narmada supply lines and local tubewells. A senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that the presence of faecal coliform was detected in several groundwater samples, confirming that the pollution has penetrated beyond the treated surface water supply system.
Seven teams from the regional PCB were deployed last Saturday to trace the source of the outbreak. Further tests are now underway to check for the presence of more dangerous pathogens like E. coli and other harmful bacteria to fully assess the public health risk.
Experts Point to Deep-Seated Infrastructure Failures
Microbiologists warn that faecal contamination typically involves bacteria such as Escherichia coli, which can cause severe diarrhoea and dysentery. Explaining the gravity of the finding, Sudhindra Mohan Sharma, former national nodal officer for Drinking Water Security, stated that faecal coliform in groundwater indicates a deep-seated problem. "Faecal coliform in groundwater means contamination has travelled from sub-soil layers into the aquifer," Sharma said.
He outlined several probable causes for this severe breach:
- Damaged Tubewell Casings: Rusted or broken casing pipes in tubewells can allow sewage from damaged sewer lines to seep directly into the groundwater.
- Faulty Recharge Shafts: Poorly constructed or unscientific recharge shafts, which are meant to replenish groundwater, can act as direct conduits for polluted surface water.
- Improper Rainwater Harvesting: Rooftop rainwater harvesting systems built without scientific design can also channel contaminated water into the ground.
Sharma emphasized that basic precautions, such as maintaining clean surroundings around recharge structures, have been neglected in many areas, leading to this crisis.
A Wake-Up Call for Water Security
This incident shatters the common perception of groundwater as a safe, emergency source of drinking water. "Its contamination raises severe concerns and reflects long-term neglect of drinking water protection systems," Sharma added. The presence of faecal matter in the aquifer suggests a systemic failure in managing both sewage and water recharge infrastructure, requiring immediate and comprehensive corrective action.
The findings from the PCB present a serious public health challenge for Indore, highlighting an urgent need for infrastructure audit and stricter monitoring to prevent future outbreaks of waterborne diseases.
