Kathmandu. Coliform, considered harmful to human health, has been found in drinking water sources in Baglung district. Coliform was found in 77 of the 369 water sources in different parts of the district.

The Province Public Health Office had tested the water source in different places of the district after the number of jaundice patients increased at Dhawalagiri Provincial Hospital. Dilli Acharya, chief of the laboratory at the Province Public Health Office, said that coliform was found in the water consumed by the locals of villages adjoining the district headquarters. According to him, it is considered harmful to human health as it is a bacterium seen in the faeces.

Acharya said, “Coliform was found in some of the sources while testing the water of around four hundred springs due to the increase in the number of patients suffering from the use of contaminated water in the hospital.” There is a risk of getting sick and losing life if you consume such water. Therefore, we have urged the drinking water consumers’ associations, wards and locals to use the water only after purifying it. ”

Laboratory chief Acharya said coliform was found in 125 of the 341 places tested last fiscal year. According to him, in the fiscal year 2080/81, coliform was found in 73 places while testing water in 208 places.

According to Kiran Tiwari, medical superintendent of Dhawalagiri Provincial Hospital, Baglung, the water contaminated with coliform causes diseases like fever, typhoid, diarrhea, malaria and jaundice. He said that many patients will increase as the water gets polluted during the rainy season. He suggests that water should be purified and boiled only during this season.

“A lot of people get sick this season because of the contaminated water, because with this rain, there is a risk of the wastewater seeping into the mud. The water source gets polluted due to the problem of flooding of rivers and streams,” said Dr Tiwari, adding, “Therefore, it is better to boil the water than drink it directly when it looks clean.” ”

According to Dr Tiwari, around 600 patients visit the hospital on a daily basis. “It has been found that most of them fell ill due to the consumption of contaminated water,” he said.