Cholera-causing bacteria found in processed, piped water in Valley, but concerned authorities still argue such water is consumable

By Mahima Devkota, Kathmandu, June 28: Despite the fact that contaminated water has been found to be the main cause of cholera for the 12 cholera patients confirmed so far in the valley, authorities entitled to maintain water quality and supply good quality water in the valley have argued that the water quality in tap and jar is consumable.

Chuman Lal Das, Director at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) under the Department of Health Services, said that the cholera-causing bacteria has been found in the water of four places in the Kathmandu Valley.

However, Prakash Kumar Rai, Deputy Manager at Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) said, “Water distributed by the KUKL is up to the mark for distribution as distribution is made only after testing its quality.”

Cholera bacteria was found in samples of taps, deep wells, tankers, jars, and bottled water in Bagbazar, Budhanilkantha, and Sanepa. The EDCD director said that water samples were also taken from Balkhu and Koteshwar but no report has been received yet.

Likewise, Kumar Dahal, Public Health Officer at the Buddhanilkantha Municipality, said, “Fecal coliform is found in multiple sources such as tap water, bottled water, jar water, and water distributed by consumer groups in the Buddhanilkantha Municipality. Therefore, there is a need to be vigilant in maintaining water quality at the municipality from all levels. The ultimatum of three months is sent to jar companies, consumer groups, and tankers association. Necessary action will be taken if it is not followed through".

He said, “Of the 117 water samples taken at the municipality, 63 samples have fecal coliform bacteria. Likewise, of the 31 jar water-producing companies, 13 contain fecal coliform.

The cholera causing bacteria is also found in water distributed by consumer groups, in percentage term, 20 percent of consumer groups are found to be distributing such polluted water. One sample is taken from tanker water was also found containing fecal coliform bacteria.”

He said that samples taken from water sources and reservoir water also contained bacteria, therefore, there is a need to be vigilant in ensuring that water sources and reservoir has good quality water.

Though bottled water produced by some 17 companies is found free from any fecal bacteria, the jar water produced by the same companies is found contaminated with fecal coliform, he said without naming the companies.

Similarly, Basanta Adhikari, Chief of Health Office, Kathmandu, said that laboratory test of three of eight water samples were conducted by Health Office, Kathmandu. Water samples were taken from the water that was consumed by cholera-infected girls in Bagbazzar. Two samples were of jar water and publicly distributed piped water and they were taken from Bagbazar while another sample was taken from jar water in Dillibazar.

He said, “Water samples taken from the water consumed by cholera infected is found not good for consumption for it contains E coli and fecal coliform, bacteria found in fecal.”

The main cause of infection for the 12 cholera patients confirmed in the Kathmandu Valley so far has been contaminated water.

Nawaraj Gautam, Information Officer at the Sukraraj Tropical & Infectious Disease Hospital (STIDH), said, of the six patients admitted to the hospital, intake of the contaminated water has been a prime cause of cholera infection in two patients and for the other four patient’s water plays a major role for the infection.

Pawan Basnet, brother of two girls who were infected with cholera for the first time in the valley, said that they usually consume jar water, however, he said, “We consumed tap water without boiling it before my sisters caught cholera.”

Information Officer Gautam said that cholera has been detected in the Valley after four-five years. Polluted water streams and sources as well as accumulated garbage piles in many places of the valley is key to contamination of water sources.

According to EDCD director Das, ten samples of water distributed by Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) were also tested. “Even 15 percent of the jars or jar-water distributed in Kathmandu have been found to be polluted.”

According to Prakash Kumar Rai, Deputy Manager at Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL), water distributed via one main source runs through a long way, which then increases the chances of it being polluted. "However, we check water pollution and leakages as well. People use multiple sources of water for consumption therefore, fingers should not be pointed at tap water quality only".

There are three main sources of water supply in the valley, which are groundwater, surface water, and water reservoir. There are 80-90 ground water sources, 31-32 surface water sources, and water is collected in a reservoir and then distributed after chemical treatment of it. Water reservoirs are in Mahankhal, Baneshwor, Anamngar,Sainbu, Thimi, Ghattekulo, Balaju, Bansbari, Sundarighat, and Bode.

Chlorination of water, two drops per liter, is used in areas such as squatters’ residential to maintain water quality.

Mohan Krishna Maharjan, Spokesperson at the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC), said that there are two kinds of water, processed water and mineral water. DFTQC looks into processed water.  Production and distribution of processed water such as bottled water and jar water is maintained as per Food Act, 2023.

He said that DFTQC participated in and conducted lab test of water following the detection of cholera in two sisters, residents of Bagbazzar, and their water samples were found to be free from E Coli and fecal coliform. He argued that the jar might have been filled with other water sources therefore fecal bacteria was detected in the sample water.

Of the six water companies inspected, two companies, Saral Mineral Water and Beverages, Tokha-8, Kathmandu and Mani Khane Pani Sewa Tokha-6, Kathmandu, operating in the valley have been barred recently from producing processed water for not maintaining water quality, he said.

The DFTQC spokesperson said, “We conduct market monitoring two times a day in the industry as well as in jar and bottled water kept for selling. This is to ensure that water quality is maintained.”