By Charminae George
Following the passing of Hurricane Tammy on Saturday, the Central Board of Health (CBH) will expand water testing efforts to ensure the safety of water consumed by households across the island is safe for use.
Starting today, personnel from the CBH will examine water from government standpipes for signs of contamination by floodwaters.
“[Flooding] can also result in pipes becoming detached or burst due to the pressure of the water. Once the pipe bursts, it can, when the pressure becomes negative, begin to suck in that flood water,” Sharon Martin, the Chief Health Inspector told Observer, yesterday.
A sure sign indicating contamination of the potable water provided to households across the island is it appearing turbid, meaning it’s not clear. Turbid water can contain dangerous microorganisms leading to water-borne illnesses such dysentery, diarrhea and cholera, Martin explained.
She added that CBH personnel will also test chlorine levels to ensure that the required amount of chlorine, 0.2 parts per milliliter, is present in the water.
If no amount of chlorine is found or only small trace amounts are found, both the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) and the residents of the area will be notified accordingly.
Samples of the water will then be taken to the lab at Dunbars to determine what water-borne microorganisms are present in the water, as the absence of chlorine allows microorganisms to thrive.
Chlorine is added to water used by households for activities such as food preparation and bathing in order to kill harmful microorganisms, therefore making it safe for human use.
