A health department report presented at a council meeting on Friday revealed that 43 water samples collected from Chennai’s Zone 11 between May 26 and August 12 tested positive for E. coli. Of these, 36 samples originated from Metro Water facilities, with the bacteria serving as an indicator of faecal contamination. While 46 samples were deemed bacteriologically unsatisfactory, the report did not specify the total number of samples tested during this period.
Three wards accounted for more than half of the positive results, with Ward 145 recording 10 cases, followed by Ward 148 with nine and Ward 147 with six. The contaminated samples were gathered from various locations, including households, public facilities, and tanks at an Amma Unavagam and the Chinna Porur UCHC.
Zone 11 chairman V. Rajan expressed concern over the health risks and requested that similar water quality testing be conducted across all 15 zones of the city. Meanwhile, Commissioner GS Sameeran noted that Metro Water is currently managing infrastructure projects worth Rs 3,600 crore, though funding constraints have delayed payments for road restoration work.
