TAP WATER SAFE TO DRINK - LWSC
By KALOBWE BWALYA LUSAKA residents have been assured that tap water supplied by the Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC) is treated and safe to drink.
Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC) managing director Jonathan Kampata said tap water supplied by LWSC comes from two sources, surface and ground.
Mr Kampata said the water was potable for drinking and other domestic uses such as bathing and cooking, as it was treated and tested.
He said water quality surveillance was also undertaken at points of production and in the distribution system on a daily basis.
Therefore, the company was confident of its water treatment processes and provided the best possible product because of the stringent quality control measures, he added.
But he said water from other sources such as private shallow wells, unprotected or poorly constructed boreholes which was mostly untreated posed a high safety risk.
“People are advised to obtain drinking water from LWSC which is treated. If using private sources, they should ensure that it is regularly tested so that if need be appropriate disinfection or treatment is undertaken before use.
“The outbreak of waterborne diseases in the city can be attributed to failure to observe basic personal hygiene practices, lack of adequate sanitation services and the consumption of untreated water from shallow wells and untreated water from private boreholes,” said Mr Kampata.
Mr Kampata also said while there was a high risk of groundwater pollution due to pit latrines in some areas, it would be alarming and therefore, not correct to generalise that the whole of Lusaka’s ground water is polluted and not safe.
He explained that LWSC obtains groundwater from well fields in Mass-media and Shat 5 in Libala, among others was working with partners under the Lusaka Water Security Initiative (LuWSI).
The company had recognised the existing high risk of pollution to Lusaka’s ground water and has planned for well field protection to the ground water.
He encouraged the private sector to join LuWSI and contribute in protecting other groundwater sources within Lusaka city,
So far twelve tanks had been mounted in Lusaka, three in Mazyopa and nine in Kanyama compound to supply clean and safe water from LWSC.
He said LWSC was supplying free safe water in all kiosks in Old and New Kanyama, Chawama, Misisi, Chibolya and John Laing compounds for people to access safe drinking water.
“Reports received indicate that no new cases of cholera had been reported. This proves that LWSC water is safe because if this was not the case, then the whole city would have been hit by an outbreak of waterborne diseases,” he said.