Government officials are blaming leaky aqueducts for contaminated water that has caused an estimated 300 residents in the Wanhua district of Taipei to become ill, with symptoms including vomiting and diarrhea.
But officials have no official explanation yet for similar cases in Sanchung and Panchiao in Taipei County.
Hsu Pei-chung (
Hsu said crews should finish repairing the aqueducts today.
"The aqueducts were installed in 1968," Hsu said. "Wear and tear plus pressure on pumps during the repeated cut-offs of the water supply might have brought about impurities, contaminating the water."
On Wednesday, numerous residents living in the Chung-shu residential compound reportedly became ill after drinking tap water.
DPP City Councilor Yen Shen-kuan (
Cases of severe diarrhea and vomiting in Sanchung and Panchiao have also prompted worries.
According to Chou Chih-hao (
"We have distributed two bottles of disinfectant to every household in the residential compounds," Chou said, as well as medication to deal with the diarrhea and vomiting.
"The bureau has also asked Sanchung Hospital to station medical teams to provide free medical services and consultation to residents at these residential compounds," he said.
Chou said while officials are still taking water samples, they believed impurities caused by leaky aqueducts are likely to blame.
"We suspect unclean cisterns might also have something to do with the contamination," he added.
Chou said cisterns should be cleaned once every six months to prevent water from being contaminated. In addition, pumps should be shut off on rationing days.
"If a pump motor keeps running during a water supply suspension, water can become contaminated," he said.
Basically, the pump has no water to draw from the normal supply, and instead draws dirty ground water through leaky pipes.
Hsu said that residents should contact the Taipei Water Department for help if needed.
"If residents smell something funny from their tap water or see the water turn a murky color, don't hesitate to call us right away," Hsu said.
The phone number for the Taipei Water Department is (02) 8733-5678.
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EPA warns of potentially dangerous water
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