Killer bacteria pollute Tangerang wells
Jakarta Post 29 jan
More than two-thirds of Tangerang’s groundwater wells contain dangerous levels of e-coli and vibrio cholarae bacteria that cause diarrhea and cholera, a study says.
The report by the Tangerang Health Agency finds that 68.5 percent of clean water sources in the regency are contaminated with the bacteria.
“We examined the water taken from 400 residential wells spread over 26 districts in the regency between July and December,” Muhamad Yusuf, a sanitation program officer the agency, said.
The study finds only 126 out of the 400 tested wells (31.5 percent) are safe to be used as clean water sources, with bacteria content below the tolerated 50 parts per 100 milliliter level.
In the remaining 274 wells, Yusuf added, the bacteria content degree ranged between 51 and 2,400 parts per 100 milliliters.
“From the research we found that Sepatan district is the most contaminated area by bacteria,” he said.
The study was initiated last year after a diarrheal outbreak in the district in June infected 329 people, mostly children. Sixteen children and at least one adult died.
Agency head of communicable diseases prevention Yuliah Iskandar said the bacteria were commonly found in unhygienic environments. They could also contaminate foods if they were not properly washed.
Diarrhea could be cured in few days, but a prolonged case would lead to dehydration and this could be fatal, Yuliah said.
"Local culture and residents’ behavior worsen the conditions … They have bathrooms and toilets in their houses but they still prefer to wash, take baths and defecate by the riverbanks. “Residents need to be more careful and maintain environmental sanitation standards,” she said. – JP/Multa Fidrus