Microbiologists from Punjab Agricultural University have found new pathogen in water that spells more bad news for human health. Microbilogists Dr PP Sahota and Dr G Pandove have detected a new emerging enteric pathogen, Aeromonas Phydrophila in 55 pc of untreated drinking water samples collected from the city.

Dr Sahota explains, “This pathogen has a significant risk factor for Aeromonas-associated gastroenteric diseases, wound infections linked to water associated injuries and recreational activities. The risk factor from Aeromonas species increases in summer as it can colonize in water storage plants, distribution pipes, overhead storage tank as it has the ability to form biofilms and survive well when associated with biofilms. Little information is available about their transmission routes, virulence, minimum infective dose survival outside the host or infect of disinfectants.”

It is not for the first time that this department is trying to wake up the city civic authorities to the quality of water which the residents are drinking. The department which conducted random tests of water quality has found that majority of areas like New Madhopuri, Dasmesh Nagar, Satguru Nagar, Model Town, Model Town Extension, Karnail Singh Nagar, New Haibowal, Kitchloo Nagar, PWD Colony, and Prem Nagar do not have water, which is fit for drinking.

And all this is because the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation is not ready to take a basic easy step that can make this water healthy and safe for its resident: chlorination. In another research conduced during early part of this year, the microbiologists had found no chlorination residues in water collected from LMC tanks.

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