Water Contaminated with Fecal Bacteria Found at AIIMS Delhi

New Delhi: A recent weekly water quality test at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, has revealed alarming contamination. Samples collected for lab analysis from the National Centre for Ageing Block and the boys' hostel tested positive for faecal bacteria, which originate from human or animal waste.

TOI has reported that over 100 medical students had been consuming the contaminated water, with several reporting symptoms like diarrhoea. While such contamination has never been reported in the last 10 years, students recently noticed a "bitter taste" in their drinking water.

According to AIIMS experts, faecal contamination can lead to health problems including diarrhoea, vomiting, and dysentery. Possible causes include damaged pipelines, water tanks accessible to monkeys, and a contaminated water supply from the Delhi Jal Board.

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The contaminated water was identified after water samples were taken from multiple locations on the AIIMS campus, including east and west campuses, IRCH, animal house, CDER, MCH block, surgery block, RP centre, ladies' hostel, ward block, teaching block, and hostel number 4 (boys' hostel) ground floor central RO and first floor, along with 1st and 2nd floors of central RO of NC ageing block between March 17 and 22.

It came to light that several students complained of a bitter taste in the water and began experiencing diarrhoea. They have presently recovered after antibiotic treatment.

After analysing the quality of the water in the lab, the microbiology department's report on March 24 confirmed the presence of faecal bacteria in the 1st and 2nd floor central RO of the NC ageing block and the ground floor central RO of boys' hostel number 4. However, the first floor of the boys' hostel was not affected as it tested negative for faecal bacteria.

The central RO unit on the ground floor of the boys' hostel, found to be contaminated, provides drinking water to more than 100 MBBS students residing in hostels 4 and 5. Twenty students live on the ground floor of hostel number 4.

Rima Dada, media division in charge at AIIMS, told TOI, "The engineering department finished cleaning the underground water tank and restored the water supply. She mentioned that while the sewer lines were found to be in proper working order, they nonetheless utilised a jetting machine for thorough cleaning. Additionally, the sewer lines at the rear of F and E-type quarters were inspected, with three flats showing satisfactory results. Following the cleaning operation, fresh samples were dispatched to the microbiology department for further testing."

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