DOH warns against contaminated drinking water in flood areas

Department of Health Secretary Enrique Ona on Tuesday advised residents in areas affected by flooding to make sure their drinking water is clean and purified.

 

"Water that is not safe to drink can make you sick from a few hours or up to several weeks after taking it,” he said in a DOH release posted on the official government website.

 

Ona added that "clear" water is not necessarily clean and could be contaminated as well. "Purifying it by boiling or disinfection will make it potable,” he said.

 

The Health Secretary said that the need for clean water in times of flood and disaster is great, since one person can drink as much as two to three liters of water a day and needs even more for cooking, brushing teeth, hand- and face-washing and cleaning utensils to avoid contracting diarrhea and other illnesses.

 

“Local governments and relief missions should ensure that containers used for rationing water are clean to prevent contamination," he said.

 

The DOH statement also provided guidelines on purifying water:

 

- Water must be filtered first to trap and remove large impurities. Any clean cloth or coffee filter can be used as a sieve.

 

- If the water is cloudy, it can be made to stand for half a day, after which clear water can be scooped and then filtered.

 

- Boiling water kills all potential germs you may get from contaminated water. Heat water and allow it to boil for two minutes then let it cool. Boiled water that has cooled can be used immediately. Stirring it or putting it from one clean container to another container several times or adding a pinch of salt or powdered juice can improve taste.

 

- Water can be disinfected by adding two drops of five-percent chlorine solution (unscented bleach) for every one liter of unrefrigerated water. Allow it to stand for an hour. If a faint chlorine smell is detected after an hour, then it is safe to drink. Repeat the procedure if you cannot detect the smell after your first try. If it does not have the faint chlorine smell on the third try then the water must be discarded since it may contain many germs. To improve taste, allow it to air some more or transfer it from one clean container to another several times.

 

- Follow provided instructions if you opt to use commercial chlorine tablets for purifying water. Chlorine solutions are also available in most health centers or evacuation centers. — BM, GMA News