Pune: E. coli Found in Lonavala Railway Station Water Sample; Railways Order Action
Reported by Amit Singh
Lonavala, 17th August 2026: A drinking water sample from a water cooler at Lonavala railway station tested positive for E. coli, according to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India’s Report No. 31 of 2026 on passenger amenities and sanitation at railway stations.
Lonavala is among eight railway stations where water samples collected from water coolers were found positive for E. coli during the period examined by the audit. The other stations were Coimbatore, Palakkad Junction, Hyderabad, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Bhiwandi Road, Kalyan and Madhupur.
The CAG audit covered 512 selected railway stations and examined drinking water quality, testing and monitoring during 2022-23 and 2023-24.
E. coli and other bacteria found in water samples
The audit also recorded the presence of total coliform bacteria, including E. coli, in drinking water samples collected from platform taps at 49 stations across eight railway zones in 2022-23 and 56 stations across nine zones in 2023-24.
Bacteriological analysis of drinking water was not carried out at 59 stations across six zones.
E. coli, or Escherichia coli, is used as an indicator of possible faecal contamination in drinking water. Under India’s drinking-water quality framework, E. coli or thermotolerant coliform bacteria are required to be absent in a 100 ml drinking-water sample.
Certain disease-causing strains of E. coli can affect the digestive system and cause diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, vomiting and fever. Some strains can cause more serious infections, including bloody diarrhoea and complications affecting the kidneys.
The presence of E. coli in a water sample does not, by itself, establish that passengers consumed the contaminated water or suffered illness as a result. The CAG report records the results of water-quality testing and does not report illness among passengers linked to the samples.
Chemical and chlorine testing gaps
The audit found that chemical analysis of drinking water was not conducted at 179 stations across 11 zones. At another 77 stations across six zones, testing was not conducted at the prescribed frequency of twice a year.
Chemical analysis showed deficiencies at 28 stations in 2022-23 and 34 stations in 2023-24.
The audit also found gaps in residual chlorine testing. Such testing was not carried out at 78 stations across 13 zones.
Among the tests conducted, residual chlorine levels were found to be either below or above the prescribed 0.2 ppm to 0.5 ppm range at 135 stations in 2022-23 and 139 stations in 2023-24. At 63 stations across 11 zones, more than half of the tests recorded chlorine levels outside the prescribed range.
Water tank cleaning records missing
The audit found that records of cleaning of drinking water storage tanks were not available for 122 stations across 15 zones.
At 39 stations across seven zones, drinking water tanks were found without adequate protection against pollution from birds or animals or with algae growth.
The audit also found that multi-parameter water-quality testing kits required for periodic inspection of water supply systems had not been provided at 436 stations across 15 zones.
Railways order ‘Tank to Tap’ water system
Following the CAG findings, a review was conducted by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board and other senior officials. The Railways subsequently ordered immediate corrective measures concerning drinking water quality.
Under the action plan, a new “Tank to Tap” water filtration and monitoring system will be installed at approximately 20,000 locations across the railway network, including water coolers.
The Railways has also ordered the replacement of water tanks and directed strict compliance with regular water-quality testing at source and outlet points.
The measures also include centralised monitoring and accountability and scheduled cleaning and maintenance of drinking water storage tanks.
The Railways said drinking water has been identified as a top-priority area, with the matter to be monitored at the Board level. It also said that progress on the measures and water-quality reports will be published periodically.
