A study published in the The Internet Journal of Third World Medicine of bacteriological quality of water samples of a tertiary care medical center campus in North Western Himalayan region, more specifically in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, found that surface and groundwater samples are highly contaminated with faecal matter.
A total of 91 water samples were collected aseptically in sterilized containers from different drinking water sources of Medical College campus and field practice area of the department over a period of two years between March 2005 to February 2007. Bacteriological examination based on MPN count in 100 ml of sample revealed that 81.3% (89.7% in 2005-06 and 75% in 2006-07) samples did not meet WHO standards of quality of water samples.
The samples taken from river, springs and bhowris were highly contaminated with MPN count more than 1600 in some cases. More samples collected from college campus were poorer in quality than collected from field practice area. The samples collected during summer and rainy seasons in 2005-06 were poorer in quality than collected during winter months.
The present study suggests that surface and ground water samples in and around Dr. R.P Govt. Medical College campus, Kangra are highly contaminated with feacal material, which may further lead to outbreaks of gastrointestinal diseases. Therefore, routine monitoring of water purification system should be done by various related departments like IPH, PWD and Community Medicine.