Tanzania: ‘Boil Drinking Water for Personal Safety’

RESIDENTS of Temeke District have been cautioned to avoid taking water from wells without boiling it properly as report by the municipal health research unit indicates that all shallow wells are contaminated.

Speaking at a joint meeting that recently brought together members of Ward Development Committees in the district, Temeke Municipal Health Officer, Mercy Kinenekejo said findings by the office of Chief Chemist – Water Division at the Municipality revealed that 100 per cent of shallow wells and 48.3 per cent of deep wells have been discovered infested with germs that cause communicable diseases.

“In efforts to improve water services in Temeke, the municipality constructed 181 wells out of which 132 are operational and 49 others out of service. Individuals have constructed 230 deep wells and 240 shallow wells in the area in all wards,” Kinenekejo explained.

She said 26 shallow wells in Temeke were tested and all were discovered to have been contaminated. However, the officer spoke strongly about the need for families to have proper toilet facilities as it was established that out of 130,984 inspected houses between January and December 2010, a total number of 17,077 had unsatisfactory toilets and 1,104 lacked toilets all together.

Again delegates were informed that from the municipality some 1,138 tonnes of garbage is produced daily while the capacity to collect the garbage is hardly 723 tonnes a day equivalent to 63.3 per cent.

“This implies that extra efforts are necessary to improve sanitation in the area to avoid further pollution of water sources. Boiling water is absolutely necessary and let every family take it very seriously,” she said.

The Acting Municipal Director, Photidas Kagimbo, underlined the importance of sustainable cleanliness insisting that the positive change among communities should take place in the mindset.