News

Unsafe drinking water in the West

April 19, 2012 7:11 pm

The Fiji National University says there is still a serious risk of water borne diseases in the west following the restoration of water supply to 90 percent of areas that were affected by the recent floods.

FNU lecturer Keshwa Nand Krishna says a recent survey carried out by students of the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences found evidence of faecal coli and E-coli bacteria in Nadi tap water.

“We were at Nadi recently and we took some samples of water and we found out that even the water supply that is people getting in urban areas have a lot of faecal coli and that is a concern also with the ministry of health I understand with the general public at large.”

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Claims are that faecal coli might have entered the water system through broken pipes which is supported by the Water Authority of Fiji Chief Executive officer Opetaia Ravai.

“That usually occurs when there is a floods and then some of our water mains are infiltrated by the flood waters, there is a high chance of contaminants entering the system so that is why the advisory is to boil drinking water during those disaster times is very important.”

The health ministry has issued repeated advisories for water to be boiled before consumption.