Kampala water ok, says WHO
Aug 05, 2007
Samples of water taken on Friday around Kampala showed that the quality conformed to the drinking water guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO), a statement signed by the National Water and Sewerage Corporation, the Ministry of Health, the Kampala City Council and WHO said.
By VISION REPORTER
Samples of water taken on Friday around Kampala showed that the quality conformed to the drinking water guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO), a statement signed by the National Water and Sewerage Corporation, the Ministry of Health, the Kampala City Council and WHO said.
“There was no indication of faecal contamination. In all the divisions, including Kawempe, turbidity was less than 2 NTU, faecal coliforms count was zero and free residual chlorine ranged from 0.2 to 0.8 mg per liter, all of which conformed to the WHO guidelines as well as the national standards for drinking water,†the statement said.
A report by KCC health inspector David Ssemwanga, a copy of which was obtained by The New Vision, had indicated that the turbidity levels of samples taken in Kawempe division between July 27 and 30 ranged between 75 and 200 NTU, far above the accepted level of less than 5 NTU. It also showed the presence of faecal coliforms in samples taken from Bwaise II, Mulago II and Kyebando parishes on July 30.
“We have looked at the KCC results and we suspect that there could have been human error in the reading of the results,†the press release said. “The piped water in the NWSC system in Kampala is safe for human consumption.â€
KCC health inspector Ssemwanga was yesterday not available for a comment. The green and brownish colour of the water had raised concern among the public, prompting Parliament to summon water officials over the matter last Tuesday.
The quality of the city’s drinking water is under intense scrutiny ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in November, where over 50 heads of state are expected.
Samples of water taken on Friday around Kampala showed that the quality conformed to the drinking water guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO), a statement signed by the National Water and Sewerage Corporation, the Ministry of Health, the Kampala City Council and WHO said.
“There was no indication of faecal contamination. In all the divisions, including Kawempe, turbidity was less than 2 NTU, faecal coliforms count was zero and free residual chlorine ranged from 0.2 to 0.8 mg per liter, all of which conformed to the WHO guidelines as well as the national standards for drinking water,†the statement said.
A report by KCC health inspector David Ssemwanga, a copy of which was obtained by The New Vision, had indicated that the turbidity levels of samples taken in Kawempe division between July 27 and 30 ranged between 75 and 200 NTU, far above the accepted level of less than 5 NTU. It also showed the presence of faecal coliforms in samples taken from Bwaise II, Mulago II and Kyebando parishes on July 30.
“We have looked at the KCC results and we suspect that there could have been human error in the reading of the results,†the press release said. “The piped water in the NWSC system in Kampala is safe for human consumption.â€
KCC health inspector Ssemwanga was yesterday not available for a comment. The green and brownish colour of the water had raised concern among the public, prompting Parliament to summon water officials over the matter last Tuesday.
The quality of the city’s drinking water is under intense scrutiny ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in November, where over 50 heads of state are expected.