Metro Cebu water found contaminated with E-coli

CEBU CITY — Metro Cebu is not only running out of water, it is also facing a more serious problem — water contamination.

Rebecca Husayan, of the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) water quality control division, said one of the most alarming problems confronting them is the mutation of coliform and contamination of their water system with E-coli.

According to her, water samples they have taken from congested areas of Metro Cebu tested positive for coliform, which poses danger to health. On the other hand, water from all areas here also carries E-coli bacteria.

"Coliform is mutating in our water system. It cannot be killed. E-coli is also found in our water, which is very alarming," Husayan added.

"The MCWD is fighting a losing battle," she added.

However, Husayan said the results of the tests of the water samples are not yet validated, as they need further study that would entail a long period of time.

With the presence of these bacteria in the water system, she said they continue to monitor the sampling areas.

Husayan was among the reactors invited to the roundtable discussion on "Clean Water Makes You Dirty," a research on water supply and sanitation behavior in Metro Cebu conducted by Daniel Bennett, a candidate for economics at Brown University in the United States.

The MCWD also increases the chlorine in the water contaminated with these bacteria and recommends to consumers to boil their drinking water.

Husayan said the need to inform the public about the contamination of Metro Cebu’s water supply is very urgent.

Meanwhile, in his presentation, Bennett said poor sanitation and dirty water cause sickness in Metro Cebu like diarrhea and cholera, which mostly afflict children.

He said water contamination is caused by the lack of proper toilet facilities and the improper dumping of household trash.

He also cited the lack of education and misalignment of incentives as reasons for the residents’ behavior and lack of concern for clean water. — Freeman News Service