Typhoid to diarrhoea: Many fall sick at Gurgaon condo, water samples fail safety test
Gurgaon: Water samples collected from NBCC Heights in Sector 89 were found unfit for drinking, confirming residents' suspicions of contamination. Over the past three weeks, numerous residents of the society suffered from typhoid, stomach infections, diarrhoea and frequent vomiting. Following their complaints, the health department collected water samples last Saturday.
The report revealed that the inlet water sample contained 9 colonies per 100 ml under Class III Presumptive Coliform Count (PCC), while the outlet water had an even higher contamination level of 14 colonies per 100 ml under Class IV PCC. According to health officials, both values exceed permissible limits and indicate serious microbial contamination.
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"I wasn't feeling well for several days, experiencing repeated episodes of vomiting. At first, I thought it was the heat and changing weather conditions. But when my neighbour, who was diagnosed with typhoid, mentioned others in the society had similar symptoms, I got scared. I filed a complaint with the health department, and the test results confirmed water contamination, both at the GMDA inlet and at household outlets. Since then, I stopped using tap water for drinking and switched to bottled water," said a resident, requesting anonymity.
Despite the contaminated inlet sample, officials from GMDA denied any lapse on their part. They attributed the issue to internal distribution of water.
"This appears to be a case of poor maintenance and non-cleaning of the underground tanks by the society. The same GMDA-supplied water reaches other areas. It must also be verified whether the society is using water from borewells in addition to our supply. There is no fault on our end, the contamination is happening inside the society," a GMDA official said.
However, RWA maintained that the society relies solely on GMDA water. "We have no alternative source of water. As a precaution, we tested for chlorine presence and thoroughly cleaned all storage tanks. Still, the GMDA must take responsibility. The health department's team has already taken samples. The test results were not shared with us. Onus is on GMDA to supply water that is fit for drinking. The authority should step up and test the water themselves," said Manoj Sharma, RWA general secretary.
In addition to water contamination, residents pointed out that the society has a malfunctioning sewage treatment plant (STP).
"Improperly treated wastewater can enter pipelines used in washrooms. One of the most concerning outcomes is urinary tract infections (UTIs) among individuals exposed to this water. UTIs are typically caused by bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. Coli), which can thrive in unsanitary water conditions. Prolonged exposure to such water can also result in skin infections, gastrointestinal issues and other health complications, especially among children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems," another resident said.
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