Potable water is a basic necessity for life. Its absence brings great health risks. Underground water pipes in Taiwan are often damaged by quakes or the pressure of overweight vehicles on the roads above the pipes, jeopardizing both water supplies and water quality for many people.
After the 921 earthquake, many quake victims in remote areas had to draw water from wells or mountain springs because of burst water mains. Water from such sources is often polluted by septic tanks, sewage drainpipes, disinfectants and other contaminants. The government should ensure a safe supply of potable water to the region before summer brings a higher risk of infection, especially from intestinal diseases.
Local health officials and a team from Fu Jen Catholic University
The quality of ground water was the worst among the samples tested. The electric conductivity levels of more than 50 percent of the underground water samples was twice that of acceptable limits. Despite a clear appearance, the water contained numerous undetectable ions. Other samples showed abnormally high levels of ammonia, indicating possible contamination by kitchen runoff or sewage. The pH levels and hardness levels of spring water also exceeded acceptable limits.
People can adjust to many hardships, such as week-long power outages, but nothing compares to a lack of running water for even a day. A study found higher quake trauma in areas that went without running water for a significant period of time. Hsiu-feng Village (秀峰鄉) residents went without running water for two months, because the collapse of local road bases damaged their water pipes.
Once the flow of water stops, pollutants in underground water enter the empty pipes. After service is restored, these pollutants are piped into people's cisterns and are consumed by residents. Bacteria and viruses in ground runoff are the main threats. A continuous water supply is the only way to prevent outbreaks of epidemics. Adding chlorine is no assurance of water quality in the presence of abundant pollutants.
Following are suggestions for the government:
First, ensure a continuous flow of water, to prevent polluted underground water from contaminating the water supply systems. Health agencies should ensure that pesticides used to control the number of mosquitos do not enter the ground water. Fertilizers should be used sparingly in agricultural and forest regions to avoid pollution as well.
Second, establish emergency local water distribution networks, as it is difficult to reconnect large water distribution networks amid wrecked roads and loose earth. These emer-gency networks can be maintained and repaired by local governments, allowing running water to be restored quickly after a disaster. Furthermore, the government should provide subsidies to pay for water supplies shipped into remote quake-affected areas, on a basis similar to the water subsidies provided to outlying islands.
The government has correctly made building temporary shelters for those left homeless by last year's quake its priority. It often takes as long as a decade for the land in quake-struck areas to finally settle. However, during this period, the government should also place a greater emphasis than it has done on the reconstruction of safe running water systems.
Liu Shi-ping is an associate professor in the department of public health at Fu Jen Catholic University.
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