Out of 146 samples of drinking water collected from government schools in Sangrur district, 57 have failed laboratory tests. These had been collected by the health authorities in the last 10 months (January to October). Tested by State Public Health Laboratory, Chandigarh, 39 per cent of the samples were found to be unfit for human consumption on account of bacteriological contamination or high fluoride content. Out of 57 failed water samples, 41 were collected from Government Primary Schools, 10 from Government Middle and Elementary Schools, five from Government Senior Secondary Schools and one from Government High School. Underground water is drawn with submersible pumps in 55 of these schools. The schools whose water samples failed laboratory tests on account of fluoride content are Government Primary School (East), Bhasaur; Government Primary School (West), Bhasaur; Government Senior Secondary School, Bhasaur; Government Primary School, Beer Kalan; and Government Primary School, Jain Patti, Longowal. The schools whose water samples failed the laboratory test are situated in Dehlij Kalan, Fatehgarh, Gandhuan, Sangrur, Khillrian, Matoi, Natt, Buraj Sedha, Bhudan, Kherri Jattan, Bhawanigarh, Ghabdan, Baopur, Gullarri, Kalbanjara, Narike Kalan, Bhogiwal, Kalabula, Bunga, Sherpur, Lehal Khurd, Banbhora, Bhullran, Jhaner, Manki etc. The district authorities had also collected 20 water samples from private schools in the past 10 months, out of which six samples failed in the test. A health official said they had written to the district education authorities and heads of the schools to take corrective measures to improve the quality of water. Poor show Twenty samples were also collected from private schools, out of which six failed These samples, collected from January to October, were found to be unfit for consumption on account of bacteriological contamination or high fluoride content