NEWS: Spring, borehole water unsafe

Spring, borehole water unsafe’

Thursday, 19th March, 2009 from NEW VISION

WATER experts have warned against drinking un-boiled water from boreholes and spring wells. They said less than 15% of such water was safe for human consumption. “Less than 15% of the water collected from boreholes and spring wells is clean,” said David Mukama, a health ministry official. “Drinking water, which is not boiled, is a recipe for water borne diseases like diarrhoea.” Mukama who is also a member of the Water and Sanitation Working Group, a network of organisations working on water issues, said contamination of the water starts at the point of collection with dirty containers. He said further contamination was inevitable during transportation, storage and consumption of the water. Mukama was speaking in Kampala ahead of the World Water Day that will be celebrated on March 22. The national celebrations will take place in Namutumba district on March 23 during which the World Forestry Day and the World Meteorological Day would also be celebrated. Mukama warned that the sanitation coverage was only 62.5% and that households that lacked latrines posed a danger to the rest that had latrines because vectors do not have boundaries. “Prevention is better than cure,” he said, adding that better sanitation would reduce disease incidences. He also said people should be encouraged to wash their hands, pointing out that for every sh1 invested in proper sanitation, sh9 was saved. Gaster Kiyingi from the Global Water Partnership, said the reduced funding for the water sector was a step backwards.