KARACHI, Dec 6: The health department of the City District Government Karachi has confirmed faecal contamination of water obtained for drinking through regulated and unregulated sources in two localities of the city recently.

Sources in the health department said that as many as 50 samples of water from various households were collected and tested at the CDGK’s food laboratory recently following reports that many people turned up at hospitals with stomach problems. The patients are believed to have consumed contaminated water.

All tested water samples were found to be containing E. coli, which posed a health hazard to the consumer, the source said, adding that the water board had also been requested to take remedial measures in the two localities and other parts of the city. It was learnt that around a week back, about 100 residents of Mujahid Colony, Nazimabad, were treated for some intestinal problems and vomiting.

The residents told the medical staff of a camp set up by the health department of the CDGK that they, due to non-availability of water from government sources, had used water accumulated in a nearby well and as a result fell sick.

In another development, dozens of peoples were rushed to nearby private hospitals following a reported outbreak of gastroenteritis in Peerabad, Banaras Chowk, UC-9, of Site Town, during the last week’s ethnic violence.

A government health officer said a medical camp could not be held in Peerabad as doctors did not want to work in the tense situation. The gastroenteritis trend was reported due to contaminated supply of piped water, said the officer, adding that sewage had mixed with drinking water.

A source said that finding coliforms or, most significantly E. coli, indicated that the microbiological safety of the water had been compromised.

According to WHO guidelines, E. coli (Escherichia coli) and faecal coliform bacteria must not be detected in a 100 millilitre sample of all water intended for drinking.

Dr A.D. Sajnani, executive district officer of the CDGK, told Dawn on Saturday that 40 water samples were collected in Peerabad and 10 in Mujahid Colony, and all of them had been tested positive for E. coli. He did not give the strength of E. coli, but maintained that the results necessitated corrective measures.

He said he had already communicated to the water board authorities about the development with a request to ensure quality supply of water to the areas. The laboratory analysis pertaining to Peerabad needed immediate rectification of points of contamination, he said.

He suggested that the problem of contaminated water could also be eliminated by segregating, distancing sewerage and drinking water lines and not allowing any unauthorised connections or breach of the water pipes.