Water tankers polluted [Archives:2006/926/Health]
Amel Al-Ariqi
[email protected]
An experimental test on water samples collected from various sources revealed that tanker water is the most polluted.
According to the test, conducted by experts from a company selling water purification equipment, water delivered to homes by tanker contains the highest levels of salt, microorganisms and leeches.
The test results shocked the audience attending the experiment, as all confirmed that they use water tankers since government water supply service cannot cover their water needs. “I never imagined that the water tanker was impure to this rate,” said attendee Fatima, who confirmed that she and her family members drink this water.
Qasam Ali Ataf, general director of the Works Ministry environmental sector, confirmed the test results, saying, “We receive many complaints about the existence of moss, mushrooms and leeches in water.” He said there are many rules and laws defining quality and conditions that must be applied to water tankers; however, there is no mechanism to execute such rules.
Contaminated water for everyone
According to the national water sector strategy (2005-2009), poor citizens living in areas inadequately served by the public water supply are forced to use lower quality water or buy expensive water supplied by tankers. The strategy mentioned that only 47 percent of Yemen's urban population and 25 percent of rural populations receive water supply service.
In fact, those benefiting from water supply service are also regular water tanker customers. “In the past, we used to distribute water to some building owners, but nowadays, we distribute water to whole residential neighborhoods,” confirmed water tanker driver Naser Hidera. According to Hidera, all tanker drivers can obtain water from widespread wells.
The question as to the reasons behind pollution affecting water tankers can be answered differently. Groundwater is the source for water tankers. According to the strategy, many practices pose potential threats to groundwater; for example, discharging untreated domestic and industrial wastewater into the aquifer, which is more visible in rural and urban areas.
Agriculture college lecturer Dr. Nabeel Al-Maghribi referred to another reason for water tanker pollution, saying that well owners continue drilling, trying to reach a water quantity to cover customer demands. However, such random drilling may reach the earth's depths, which is characterized by high salt density. “Water from deep wells generally contains salt and minerals in the solution,” he explained.
According to Al-Maghribi, such water causes many health problems and kills plants. Well drilling licensing did not become obligatory by law until the 2002 Water Law was issued. However, implementing the licensing system remains difficult.
A third reason may lie in the tankers themselves. A cabinet resolution exists regarding standard water qualities, defining required standards and qualities that all water tankers must meet. However, such a resolution remains on paper. According to the resolution, the environmental health authority is charged with monitoring water tankers. However, Hidera, Hussein Ali and other tanker owners confirmed that they have never seen any environmental sector employees.
Who is the victim?
According to the strategy, there are thriving water service markets in rural and urban regions, for example water tanker delivery service. The market is based essentially on resource capture because the sellers of these services have neither restrictions on access to or quantity of water to pump nor a recognized right over the water they access.
The strategy warned that lack of clear water rights causes unsustainability because higher water service demand drives a “race to the bottom of the aquifers.”
Who is responsible?
Regarding water quality, there is often duplication and some overlapping of responsibilities among various institutions. According to the Water Law, the National Water Resources Authority (NWRA) is responsible for monitoring and regulating water resources quality (natural water resources), while potable water quality (in the networks) is monitored and controlled by the water utilities and public health authorities. Water quality monitoring mandates presently are fragmented among several entities.
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