WATER CRISIS EXPANDS – boil and filter warning

(Newsroompanama.com) After suffering through long spells with no water, Panamanians have been told not to drink water coming from the Chilibre treatment plant until it has been boiled.

From the tap it is is not potable  (suitable for human consumption).

The warning comes from Minister of Health, Franklin Vergara, who blames the crisis on the turbidity and the the fact that  chlorination is not working effectively.

 Vergara suggests that the water coming from the tap should be boiled then left it sit for a few minutes, and filterered it with either a standard filter or a piece of white cloth.

The Minister said that monitoring carried out by the Ministry of Health (MINSA) has not  yet detected bacteria or microorganisms. but water should be boiled as a precautionary measure.

No date has been set for the lifting of the warning.

Officials from MINSA's Water and Sanitation Department are carrying out six tests per day to check the water quality. "The turbidity has not decreased and chlorination has not had the desired effect" said Vergara.

*********

Original Source: Newsroompanama.com

Date Retrieved: January 5, 2011.