Faecal contamination in water, finds report on Khurda school
Bhubaneswar: As cases of jaundice continue to rise, the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya at Gurujang in Khurda district was closed down on Wednesday for a week. While the number of positive cases rose to 62 on the day, lab reports pointed to faecal contamination of water on the school campus.
Of the 12 points on campus from where water samples were collected by Watco, five points were suspected to be contaminated and lab reports received by the school on Tuesday pointed to faecal contamination at two points. These contaminated points are the kitchen tap and the overhead tank of the school.
Principal Kabita Kar said the reports stated faecal contamination and ‘confluent growth’ at these two points, indicating a very high concentration of bacteria. The school administration will carry out intensive cleaning of the campus and all water sources during the period of school closure. The school will reopen on Jan 14, but any student who was suffering from fever or any other ailment prior to this date will have to submit a fitness certificate to rejoin school. The practical exams of Class XII students begin on Jan 15.
The school is in touch with Watco, district and municipality authorities for all necessary work to be undertaken, Kar said. “Students also need to be isolated to break the chain of infection now. Hence, closing down the campus was necessitated,” she added.
There are 41 water tanks on the campus and on Monday, Watco cleaned them all. The school usually conducts water tests and water tank cleaning twice a year in the months of July and Dec.
Kar said that the reason behind the faecal contamination will be ascertained and corrective measures will be taken.
Watco general manager Rajendra Nayak said, “The corporation supplies water to the sump in JNV campus from its district metered area and the chlorination levels are monitored online round-the-clock. From the sump, the water is pumped to the overhead tank, from where it is supplied to various points, including the hostels, kitchen and the academic block, among others. There is no way that the water can be contaminated in the Watco source.”
Of the 12 points on campus from where water samples were collected by Watco, five points were suspected to be contaminated and lab reports received by the school on Tuesday pointed to faecal contamination at two points. These contaminated points are the kitchen tap and the overhead tank of the school.
Principal Kabita Kar said the reports stated faecal contamination and ‘confluent growth’ at these two points, indicating a very high concentration of bacteria. The school administration will carry out intensive cleaning of the campus and all water sources during the period of school closure. The school will reopen on Jan 14, but any student who was suffering from fever or any other ailment prior to this date will have to submit a fitness certificate to rejoin school. The practical exams of Class XII students begin on Jan 15.
The school is in touch with Watco, district and municipality authorities for all necessary work to be undertaken, Kar said. “Students also need to be isolated to break the chain of infection now. Hence, closing down the campus was necessitated,” she added.
There are 41 water tanks on the campus and on Monday, Watco cleaned them all. The school usually conducts water tests and water tank cleaning twice a year in the months of July and Dec.
Kar said that the reason behind the faecal contamination will be ascertained and corrective measures will be taken.
Watco general manager Rajendra Nayak said, “The corporation supplies water to the sump in JNV campus from its district metered area and the chlorination levels are monitored online round-the-clock. From the sump, the water is pumped to the overhead tank, from where it is supplied to various points, including the hostels, kitchen and the academic block, among others. There is no way that the water can be contaminated in the Watco source.”
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