Q: This is a general question regarding the water problem. Of late, the drinking water we are getting is having mud and some black sedimentation. The residual chlorine is 0.1 ppm in the water, the bacteriological test is negative for E coli. Please suggest what action do we take as the head of the health department locally.

A:The problem of contaminated water is a major health hazard in many countries. In the richer countries as well as poorer ones the more affluent people prefer to drink commercially marketed bottled water. Boiling and straining the water (even through a clean sari) is of major help. Most important is to insist on frequent hand washing using soap since many of the problems caused by contaminated water come from unhygienic handling of food.