Meru residents warned against consuming water from River Mpuone

Meru residents have been warned against consuming water from a stream after being found to be contaminated with iron and nitrites.

The county's Public Health Director Euphantus Kariuki said the stream, which drains its water into River Kathita, was contaminated.

He said locals who depend on River Mpuone should boil the water thoroughly if they have to use it.

“We have been taking water samples from the rivers in the region to determine their quality and safeness for consumption. The samples were taken to the Government Chemist for testing and from the results we have received, River Mpuone is highly contaminated and unfit for consumption,” Dr Kariuki said.

He said the results of water from the river, which were received last month, indicate that the water has high concentration of iron and nitrites.

The amount of nitrites in the water is triple the acceptable amount level as per World Health Organisation (WHO). The iron, on the other hand is double the WHO levels.

“The presence of high concentration of those chemicals is very harmful. Heavy metals such as iron, for instance is carcinogenic,” warned Mr Kariuki.

CAN CAUSE DEATHS

Mr Kariuki said excess iron could cause deaths.

“If such water is used to prepare formula for infants, the iron can poison them and also cause baby blue syndrome in the babies if the water is consumed by an expectant mother,” he added.

He also said excessive consumption of iron could also result in genetic disorders.

Presence of excess amounts of nitrites in the water is also a threat to aquatic life and thus could hinder fish farming which the county is venturing into, he said.
The department has launched an investigation into the possible causes of the contamination of the waters as it continues to carry out tests on all other waters including boreholes.

“As we continue with our investigation, I suspect that waste from car wash could be among the reasons for high contamination. The iron could be coming from the vehicles brought from garages and washed at the carwashes which drain their waste water in the rivers. The nitrites could also be from the detergents used as they wash the cars,” speculated Mr Kariuki.

Kathima spring has also been found to be contaminated, mainly by human waste.

Following the results, the department has issued a notice to all car wash operators in an effort to avoid further contamination.