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Friday, April 18, 2008
Bacteria found in Bacolod City's water wells
By Gil Alfredo B. Severino
BACOLOD CITY -- The Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) laboratory has found the existence of populous contamination of Escherchia Coli or E. coli in residential wells dug up to surface water level.
E. coli is a bacterium (germ) that causes severe cramps and bloody diarrhea, the Baciwa laboratory said.
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Baciwa added that residential wells are the communal wells or water pumps (poso sa tubig in the vernacular) that make up almost 55 percent of the water systems scattered among the 62 barangays in Bacolod City.
Owing to lack of funds and other equipment, Baciwa could only effectively serve 34 percent of households and facilities in the city.
Of the figure, 10 percent are privately-owned water systems and the rest are dependent on communal wells arbitrarily constructed in any vacant portion of a purok or barangay.
Baciwa said it has no control over the filtration of privately-owned wells and majority of communal wells, which are highly susceptible to populous contamination of E. coli.
The water district added that the danger of communal wells is it can only reach down to 150 feet below the ground, reaching only the "surface water" level of the ground strata.
"It can readily be observed that usually, these communal pumps and 150-foot surface water source act as passageways of E. coli coming from septic tanks (poso negro) seepages," said Baciwa assistant manager for operation Samuel Penado.
He added: "Septic tanks are also arbitrarily constructed anywhere in the purok or barangay, thus contaminating surface water, which in turn is suck out off the ground by communal water pumps."
Penado stressed that septic tanks are breeding grounds for E. coli, which thrives in surface water that people depend on for their water needs.
"There are those who drink water straight from communal water pumps, drinking water contaminated by E. coli coming from septic tanks and they are absolutely not aware of this," Penado said.
He warned that an infected person manifests symptoms of watery, bloody stools, cramps, fever, nausea or vomiting, and sometimes choleric complications leading to death.
Penado meantime assured that Baciwa is ready to increase its coverage beyond the present 34 percent.
The opening of the Mansilingan reservoir will enlarge its coverage to another 30 percent, depending on financial support that Baciwa can avail.
"And this is the reason why we are doubling our efforts in making representations with all concerned agencies so we can eventually eliminate all forms of communal pumps in all barangays of Bacolod City," Penado said. "It has a life threatening effect." (Sun.Star Bacolod/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Davao. (April 18, 2008 issue)
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