‘Drinking water must be tested’
HAPA CHINI▼▼
HAPA CHINI▼▼
TANZANIANS
have been urged to build the culture of conducting frequent water tests to
ensure it is safe from all types of contaminants.
A
resident Technician at Ngurdoto Defluoridation Research Station, Mr Godfrey
Mkongo, said yesterday that the system will help to reduce the possibilities of
contracting waterborne diseases and other related health impacts.
“Many
people conduct water tests when the source is new, without knowing that the
water can be contaminated or its content can change with time due to various
factors,” Mr Mkongo said. Mr Mkongo said that even individuals who receive
water from public systems can take samples for testing because the water can
pick up contaminants during distribution.
“We
are enlightening the public on the importance of testing water to establish its
status and advise on measures to avoid further impacts,” Mr Mkongo noted.
According to Mr Mkongo, the cost of a water test depends on the parameters to
be tested, adding that one parameter can be tested at costs ranging between
4,000/- and 8,000/- .
He
noted that the frequency of testing water also depends on the number of people
served from it. Mr Mkongo added that if the water source serves many people,
this means there is a need to undergo more tests.
Explaining
on the level of fluoride in water and its impact on human health, he said the
chemical is essential for teeth and skeletal health when taken through drinking
water at a concentration of about 1.0mg/l. “Fluoride is colorless, odorless and
tasteless in food and water.
Concentrations
of up to 1.0mg/l in drinking water are known to prevent dental caries but
higher concentration are toxic and cause dental, skeletal and crippling
fluorosis,” he said.
He
mentioned the regions with high concentration of fluoride as Arusha,
Kilimanjaro, Singida, Mwanza, Mara and Manyara. Mr Mkongo, however, noted that
people in the areas can use modern technology to reduce the concentration of
the chemical in water such as bone char.
HAPA CHINI▼▼
During its two year run, the project will award approximately 100 major reporting grants and provide mentoring to support the best ideas for stories on development issues. Journalists who produce the best stories published or broadcasted in media that reach African audiences, will win a major international reporting trip. During its two year run, the project will award approximately 100 major reporting grants and provide mentoring to support the best ideas for stories on development issues. Journalists who produce the best stories published or broadcasted in media that reach African audiences, will win a major international reporting trip.
HAPA CHINI▼▼