Springs, bottled water polluted
People queue to fetch water from one of the protected water springs in Kigongi cell, Kigogi ward, Kabale Town. Such springs are said to be contaminated. PHOTO BY ROBERT MUHEREZA
What you need to know:
A report found that some water sources were contaminated with faecal matter and lacked water-purifying substance.
KAMPALA- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has cleared National Water and Corporation free from contamination but raised the red flag over high levels of faecal contamination in springs and some brands of bottled water.
A preliminary report prepared by Dr Jennifer Murphy and Amy Kahler, both scientists in the waterborne prevention branch of CDC, indicates that springs or wells exhibited high frequency of faecal contamination and none of them contained chlorine, a water purifying substance.
“One of 13 presumably treated manufacturer-packaged bottled water samples exhibited low-risk faecal contamination. None of these sources contained detectable chlorine,” the report reads in part.
According to Mr Asuman Lukwago, the ministry of Health permanent secretary, the investigations were prompted by the typhoid outbreak in Kampala and some neighbouring districts in February.
“I attended a forum where a group of people raised concerns to a senior government official over water contamination in Kampala,” Dr Lukwago said.
He added: “We cannot ignore results prepared by experts at CDC. We are going to study the report and see how we can use this information,” he added.
Dr Lukwago said the earlier results had also found wells and springs to be 90 per cent contaminated with faecal material.
He, however, noted that NWSC and manufactured bottled water sources were found to be safe.
The CDC report further reveals that vendor-sold kaveera and refilled water bottles were contaminated with high levels of E.coli, a bacteria that causes most diseases of the digestive tract, and urinary tract infections.
Also at high risk of waterborne diseases, are individuals who consume jerrycan water after they were found to be containing faecal material.
The report advised the public to boil water got from the various water sources before consuming it.
