More than one-fourth of drinking water samples in Kathmandu have been detected with faecal coliform bacteria.

As per the recent test from Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, tests on samples taken from drinking water sources in Kathmandu showed coliform present in 32.6 percent of the samples.

The samples for tests were collected from tap water, tanker water, tube well water, Melamchi drinking water and mainly from bottled jar water, an official at the division informed.

The faecal coliform is a bacteria found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals, including humans, or their faeces which means that the drinking water used by the Kathmanduites is contaminated with sewage.

The use of chlorine powder in the treatment of water can reduce the problem, however, the negligence of concerned authorities in chlorinating drinking water before supplying it and checking its quality can be deadly for the people.

The bacteria can cause serious water-borne diseases in humans including cholera, urinary tract infection, diarrhea, vomiting and fever.