Alarm in Valpoi as claims of ‘worms’ in tap water surface

Water samples are collected from a house in the Valpoi municipality.

VALPOI
A sense of panic spread in one ward of Valpoi municipality after locals claimed that worms were reportedly found in a household drinking water pipeline by the roadside.
Officials from the Valpoi water supply department have, however, dismissed this claim.
As a precautionary measure, officials inspected the area and collected tap water samples from several houses for testing. The entire pipeline was also flushed, and preliminary observations suggest that the water is not contaminated.
According to reports, the incident came to light on Tuesday afternoon when worm-like organisms were noticed in the drinking water of a house in Valpoi. This led to fear among residents, with some suspecting the presence of larvae and raising concerns about potential health risks.
Upon receiving the complaint, the water supply department responded promptly. A team led by Assistant Engineer Madan Desai visited the site in the evening, interacted with residents, and assessed the situation.
During the inspection, it was found that no other house, except one, had reported the issue.
Officials stated that the collected water samples have been sent to the department’s laboratory for detailed analysis. Although the final report is awaited, preliminary tests have not detected any contamination. They further clarified that adequate chlorination levels in the water make the presence of live organisms highly unlikely.
Officials also ruled out the possibility that the issue originated from the Dabos water project pipeline. Additional checks in nearby households did not reveal any similar occurrence.
As a preventive step, the concerned pipeline was thoroughly flushed to eliminate any possible impurities and ensure a safe water supply.
While the final laboratory report is still pending, officials have assured that the water appears safe based on initial findings and have urged citizens not to panic.