E-Coli bacteria in tap water

JAKARTA (JP): A health official made a startling revelation on Monday when he claimed that Singaraja Tap Water Company in Bali is the only tap water company able to supply potable water in Indonesia.

"Singaraja started to supply potable water to Bali in September 1999," Director General of Communicable Disease Control and Environmental Health Umar Fahmi was quoted by Antara as saying.

Speaking at a national meeting on tap water management in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, the official pointed out that about 40 percent of water supplied by tap water companies throughout the country is contaminated by e-coli bacteria.

Citing research findings from 1998, Umar said water quality was a major source of diarrhea especially among children.

"Due to severe contamination, it is no surprise that diarrhea remains a serious health problem in Indonesia," said Umar.

According to Umar, diarrhea has become the second biggest cause of death in infants, and the five biggest for all ages in Indonesia.

Citing research from the University of Indonesia, Umar said a clean water supply is able to reduce the number of diarrhea sufferers by 35 percent, while toilet-usage lessens the disease by 28 percent.(prb)