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| Health Minister Isaac Adewole |
Dr. Eze Ugochukwu, a public health consultant, on Wednesday urged all Nigerians to embrace the use of chlorine and boiling to purify their water before using it for domestic and drinking purposes.
Ugochukwu told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that it was no longer news that a large number of Nigerians consumed water that was contaminated by pollutants.
He said that the deliberate water treatment through water filtering and boiling as well as the use of chlorine tablets, especially in rural areas, would go a long way to reduce the prevalence of water-borne diseases in communities.
According to him, the use of chlorine will destroy the bacteria and viruses that contaminate water and kill the disease-causing agents.
“The other thing that people can actually do is to boil their water, it’s so simple; some of these things can do a whole lot.
“So, people can boil their water and allow it to cool down in a covered place and in the next day, the water is ready for use.
“So, boiling can destroy almost all diseases in the water,’’ he said.
Besides, Ugochukwu said that the location of boreholes and wells should be considered, as there could be pollution from underground water.
He noted that such pollution could occur from the proximity of the boreholes and wells to waste dumpsites and some chemicals that could infiltrate earth surfaces.
The consultant said that such infiltration posed greater dangers to the people using water from wells for domestic purposes.
"Water in wells comes from lower surfaces; the water is very much at risk of being polluted by nearby toilets and refuse dumpsites.
"That is why when we talk about sanitary wells, we are talking about those that are well positioned.
"It is important that they are uphill and they should be at least 30 metres away from any source of pollution.
"Well water can be polluted by toilets, refuse dumpsites and even borehole water can be similarly polluted but that depends on the depth of the boreholes,’’ he said.
The health expert said that Lagos State might find it difficult to avoid pollution of its underground water sources because of its low water depth.
"I can assure that in Lagos, the water of most boreholes that are sited near waste dumpsites and toilets is polluted and not safe for drinking or other domestic uses. Besides, the water level there is very low,’’ he said.
Ugochukwu urged all Nigerians to look after their health and well-being at all times.
He said it was saddening to note that most sources of water across the country had been polluted by impure substances.
According to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) findings in 2017, facilitated by UNICEF and the National Bureau of Statistics, many households in Nigeria consume water contaminated by faeces and other impure substances.
The report said that the people’s access to improved water sources in urban areas was only 64 per cent, stressing that the figure was lower in rural areas.
It, therefore, underscored the need for Nigeria to improve its citizens’ access to potable water so as to enhance their well-being. (NAN)
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