EWA urges public to check internal water pipelines, tanks

Manama : The Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) has called upon the public to periodically assess the condition, sanity and hygiene of their internal water pipelines, storage system and other water carrying components to avoid contamination, which results in health issues after consumption.

The appeal follows a report published in DT News last week regarding kidney damage of an expatriate following consumption of contaminated tap water.

The 53-year-old Indian expat Jayan experienced milder symptoms of illness after drinking water from his apartment tap, which ultimately resulted in kidney damage and heart complications, according to doctors.

The expat said his flat mates had also suffered from illness related to food poisoning after drinking tap water.

“EWA would like to clarify that the quality of water produced, transmitted and distributed up to Mr. Jayan’s metering point is World Health Organisation specification compliant which is potable and does not harm the health of the users,” the Public and International Relations at the authority said in its reply.

“EWA has stringent quality control criteria and monitors the water quality right through the source where it is produced and non-compliant water is dumped and not allowed to enter into the transmission and distribution stream for the sake of public health security,” the directorate explained in its reply, adding that “the authority is not responsible for water quality beyond delivery point which is the metering station”.

It explained further in its reply, “The conditions and sanity of water pipelines beyond the metering station and storage systems at the consumer end is the sole responsibility of the user. Sometimes corrosion of pipelines, use of substandard water pipes, unhealthy and unhygienic storage systems by the consumers could lead to contamination of water that ultimately enters the tap and may cause illness to the consumers.”

Stressing that Jayan’s condition shouldn’t be blamed on the cleanliness of the water provided by the authority, the directorate added, “It should be noted that most of the people across Bahrain use water provided by EWA for drinking purposes and all other potable water supplying companies use this water for their businesses and no such unfortunate incidents have been reported.”