The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) assured the public that its piped water meets World Health Organization (WHO) standards and is safe for consumption.
At a public engagement meeting in Gulu City, concerns were raised about the safety of tap water. Anthony Opiyo, deputy town clerk of Pece-Laroo Division, said he frequently suffers from typhoid after drinking tap water.
However, NWSC attributed such infections to secondary contamination, often introduced along the distribution network due to illegal connections, poor plumbing and consumer negligence.
Proscovia Nyamungu, NWSC’s commercial officer for the Gulu area, said water is rigorously tested at treatment plants and household levels to ensure safety.
Nyamungu cited illegal activities, poor household plumbing, unclean water storage tanks and unsanitary surroundings as key contributors to water contamination. Residents were advised to boil tap water, clean storage tanks regularly and maintain hygiene around taps.
Ivan Tekakwo, NWSC’s public relations officer, emphasized the need for precautionary measures, noting that contamination en route is a real possibility despite the safety of water at source.
Residents also expressed concern over lack of prior notice during routine tank cleaning exercises, which can result in discolored or dirty water. NWSC acknowledged the communication gap and is working to improve notification methods.
Access to clean water remains a major public health issue in Uganda. According to WHO, an estimated 23,000 people, mostly children under five, die annually from diarrhea due to poor water, sanitation and hygiene practices. Cholera and other waterborne diseases account for an additional 3,000 deaths annually.
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