# 8,000 Amdavadis were diagnosed with diarrhoea in
2014, up by about 25 per cent over the 2013 figure.
# Jaundice and typhoid have also raised their heads
as their cases soared by 26 per cent and 44 per cent respectively.
Despite the shocking surge in the water-borne
diseases in the city, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s water testing
laboratories are not equipped to test advanced microbes and heavy metals and in
drinking water as prescribed by World Health Organisation (WHO). This is not
only contributing to rise in water-borne diseases but also damaging vital body
organs like kidney, liver, bone and blood.
In the USA, 10 people per one million succumb to
kidney ailment whereas, the number in Gujarat is five times higher, said by Dr
HLTrivedi of Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre.
Heavy metal in water is considered as one of the
important causes for rise in such ailments. “Presence of heavy metal in water
affects not only kidney but other vital organs like liver. It is important to
keep drinking water free from such metals. And to do so water test should be
done regularly to understand the amount of metal’s presence,” added Dr Trivedi.
However, he also added that due to rising usage of
RO, the risk of heavy metal in water has reduced.
‘Man power required’
AMC labs’ inadequacy was first highlighted in a study
published by Indian Institute of Public Health in 2013. The study stated, “The
water samples are subjected to only basic physical and chemicals analysis. The
capacity to test heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic and nitrates),
trihalothanes and fluorides and advanced microbial tests for bacteriophages and
spores are not available.”
An AMC health official accepted that they don’t
conduct the test at a regular interval, though it is required. “Currently, we
don’t test heavy metals like lead, mercury, arsenic on a regular basis. In
fact, there is no need for that because this kind of contamination is rare,”
said AMC Health Officer Bhavin Solanki.
“It’s not possible to test such metals every day as
it requires a lot of man power,” he added.
Solanki, however, accepted that these chemicals could
affect vital organs in long term.
When Mirror tried speaking to the main correspondent
of the study, Veena Iyer, she refused to share further information.
She, however, said, “Like Ahmedabad, water testing
laboratory is unavailable at several places across the country. So,
highlighting only one city is not justified.”
The study insists on periodic surveys and calls for
improved testing strategy for drinking water.
Dr Sandeep Shah, a microbiologist, said: “Most of
these metals affect our internal organs which in a long run can be fatal. With
increasing industry and human dwelling, water contamination is on the rise.
Hence, there is need for modified water testing strategy which can identify
water contamination sooner.”
Ground water still in use
Though the city has been receiving Narmada water
since 2000, the use of groundwater is still rampant at several places in the
city where AMC does not supply water. The groundwater in Ahmedabad is known to
have high levels of iron, fluoride, chloride and nitrates. Municipal
corporations as well as rich housing societies routinely resort to groundwater
to supplement their water needs.
“The present drinking water surveillance system of
the municipal corporation is designed for 24-hour pipe distribution of treated
surface water. In reality, the water supply is neither 24 hours nor exclusively
treated surface water,” said the study. Ahmedabad receives approximately 1
billion litres of water daily. But, the supply is not metered. Therefore, the
actual quantity of water consumed by residents is not recorded.
BOXXXX
Chemicals and their affect
Lead: It delays physical and mental development in
children. It also increases in blood pressure and kidney problems.
Cadmium: In long term, excessive intake of it can
damage kidney, liver, bone and blood.
Mercury: It can permanently damage the brain, kidneys
and developing foetus.
Arsenic: It causes bladder, lung, skin, kidney and
liver cancer. It harms the central and peripheral nervous systems, heart and
blood vessels, and causes serious skin problems. It also may cause birth
defects and reproductive problems.
Nitrates: It affects red blood cells that transport
oxygen. Infants may turn bluish and develop breathing ailment.
Fluoride: It makes bone weak, making people
vulnerable to arthritis and fractures.
Trihalothanes: It can lead to cancer and adverse
reproductive outcome.
BOXXX:
Diarrhoea
2014: 7,310 (Nov 4, 2014)
2013: 6,500
Rise: 23%
Jaundice
2014: 434
2013: 342
Rise: 26%
Typhoid
2014: 201
2013:139
Rise: 44%
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