A severe public health crisis has emerged in Greater Noida’s Sector 16B, where over 400 residents of Ajnara Homes have fallen ill due to contaminated drinking water.
Laboratory tests have confirmed the presence of E. coli bacteria in the residential water supply, leading to widespread cases of diarrhoea, vomiting, and fever. The outbreak, which unfolded over the first two weeks of April 2025, has been linked to faecal contamination in the complex’s overhead and underground water tanks. Further analysis revealed dangerously high alkaline levels in the water—285 mg/L in overhead tanks and 260 mg/L in underground tanks—far exceeding permissible standards.
Health officials have issued an urgent advisory, instructing residents to cease using tap water for consumption and to rely solely on boiled or packaged water until further notice. Chlorine treatments are currently underway to disinfect the water supply. Medical experts warn that E. coli, while sometimes present harmlessly in the human gut, can cause serious infections if ingested through contaminated water. Potential health risks include infectious diarrhoea, sepsis, and multi-organ failure.
In response to the crisis, many residents have switched to packaged water or installed reverse osmosis (RO) systems in their homes. However, the situation has reignited anger among homeowners, who allege that despite paying regular maintenance fees, building management failed to ensure basic water safety. The Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) had previously fined the builder Rs 25 lakh for lapses and ordered an immediate cleaning of the water tanks. Officials have also called for a swift transfer of maintenance duties to Apartment Owners Associations (AOAs) to better safeguard residents’ interests in the future.
This incident underscores the critical need for stringent water quality monitoring and infrastructure maintenance in residential complexes. Ensuring access to safe drinking water is fundamental to public health and urban sustainability.
Over 400 residents unwell from unsafe water in Greater Noida