Water in slums not potable: Study

New Delhi, Dec 27 (UNI) Water catering to four slums and six resettlement colonies has been found to be unfit for drinking, according to a study group.

Hazards Centre, set up in 1998 by Sanchal Foundation, started the study in May 2005. The analysis of driNking water quality was done for four chemical parameters-chloride, fluoride, nitrate and iron, and bacteriological contamination in four slums and seven resettlement colonies of Delhi.

The results of the study shows that 68 samples out of the 77 collected from various sources, including groundwater and surface water, are not fit for drinking.

Bacteriological contamination is most prevalent and presence of faecal bacteria is found in 55 of the total 77 samples analysed.

The quality of drinking water in slums is as bad as in resettlement colonies, irrespective of seasons and sources.

The four slums selected for the study are Tigri, Kanakdurga, Indira camp and Sant Ravidas camp. The resettlement colonies are Bawana, Bhalaswa, Madanpur Khadar, Molarbund, Hastsal and Bakkarwala.

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