New Delhi, March 10 -- Doctors and public health experts in Delhi have warned that contaminated drinking water can lead to serious health consequences, particularly for children, the elderly and people with weakened immunity. The warning comes a day after a Hindustan Times investigation found bacterial contamination in several household tap water samples from complaint-prone areas across the capital. Laboratory analysis of 18 samples found that eight contained total coliform bacteria or E. coli, both indicators of possible faecal contamination. "When drinking water becomes contaminated with bacteria, viruses or parasites, it can trigger a range of diseases - from acute diarrhoeal illnesses to typhoid and hepatitis," said Dr Sharad Malhotra, director of gastroenterology at Aakash Healthcare. Data shared by the Union health ministry in Parliament under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) shows Delhi recorded thousands of water-borne disease cases between 2021 and 2025. In 2024 alone, the city reported 43,683 acute diarrhoeal disease cases, 33,413 typhoid cases, 4,142 hepatitis A cases and 436 hepatitis E cases. "In many parts of Delhi, drinking water pipelines run very close to sewage drains," said Dr Amit Miglani, director of gastroenterology at Asian Hospital. "This data should be a wake-up call. A child with cholera or severe diarrhoea can deteriorate within hours," said Dr Sourojit Gupta, senior consultant at Maccure Hospital, Dwarka....