the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) has recently acknowledged that it is supplying drinking water highly contaminated by Escherichia coli bacteria, and the pollution levels far surpass the limits set by the World Health Organisation. The admittance was made in a report recently submitted to the Patna high court. Experts opine that the contaminated water is responsible for a sharp rise in the cases of cholera, jaundice and other waterborne diseases in the city. R K Saxena of Patna Medical College and Hospital says that biological contamination of potable water was detected in 50 water supply zones of the city. A study conducted by environmental biology laboratory of the Patna University shows that water at the source point is virtually free from bacterial contamination, but it gets polluted at the service points. The water supply pipes and sewer lines run parallel and their leakage contaminates the water.