Municipal response to contaminated tap water — choosing practical actions Statement: Residents of Model Colony (North Ward, City X) report three days of contaminated tap water and inaction by municipal staff. Courses of Action: (I) Initiate action against residents who complained. (II) Send a junior officer with staff to assess on site and test samples in laboratories. (III) Ask the Ward Engineer to check installations and pipelines in Model Colony.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Only II and III follow

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Drinking-water complaints demand swift verification and engineering fixes. This question asks which courses of action are reasonable for the Ward Officer after residents report contamination and apparent inaction.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Multiple days of reported contamination.
  • Verification and root-cause analysis are required.
  • Course I: Punitive action against complainants.
  • Course II: Field assessment with sampling and lab testing.
  • Course III: Technical inspection of installations and pipelines.


Concept / Approach:

  • Sound municipal practice starts with fact-finding (sampling) and engineering assessment, then remediation.
  • Retaliation against residents is unethical and counterproductive.


Step-by-Step Solution:

II follows: Sampling and lab testing are essential to confirm contamination type and level.III follows: Engineering checks identify ingress of sewage, pressure issues, or pipeline breaches.I does not follow: Discouraging complaints undermines public health surveillance and has no basis.


Verification / Alternative check:

Standard operating procedures for water complaints include immediate site visits, bacteriological/chemical tests, and pipeline integrity checks.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Combinations with I endorse retaliation, which is illogical.“Either I or III, and II” is invalid because I never follows while III clearly does.


Common Pitfalls:

Assuming complaints are nuisances rather than critical alerts; they trigger due diligence.


Final Answer:

Only II and III follow

More Questions from Course of Action

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