82 percent of ‘jar and bottle’ water in Kathmandu Valley contaminated
KATHMANDU, June 27: At the time the viral water-borne disease, cholera, outbreak is feared in Kathmandu Valley, 82 percent of jar and bottle water — that is considered safe to drink — has been found contaminated.
So far cholera has been confirmed in 12 people residing in various places in the valley like Bagbazar, Dillibazar, Sanepa, Balaju, Kapan and Naikap.
As per a study conducted by the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), samples of water collected from taps and wells around Bagmati River were found 85 percent contaminated with Coliform Bacteria. Likewise, water samples taken from fifty ‘Jar water’ were found 75 percent contaminated with E.coli and 92 percent with Coliform Bacteria.
E.coli and Coliform Bacteria spread cholera, according to Dr. Chuman Lal Das, director of the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division.
Likewise, a test recently conducted by the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control has shown that drinking water produced by 39 companies are undrinkable.
Deputy Director General of the department, Shailesh Kumar Jha said that the department is currently collecting samples of drinking water in the valley and tests will be conducted soon.
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