Building a Better Jamaica

Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Jamaica Information Service

In response to the chronic water shortage in the Corporate Area, Director of Disease Prevention and Control, Dr. Sonia Copeland, is reminding householders and operators of educational institutions to store and treat drinking water properly in order to prevent diseases.

"During periods of water lock offs, individuals and institutions are heavily dependent on stored water, water safety thus becomes extremely critical for preventing diseases such as gastroenteritis, cholera and Typhoid fever," Dr. Copeland said.

She said, as a first line of caution, all storage containers and covers must be thoroughly cleaned with soap and water before use.

"These receptacles must be kept covered at all times to prevent mosquito breeding," Dr. Copeland cautioned.

Continuing Dr. Copeland said drinking water must be purified by boiling or treating with small amounts of household bleach. To treat water with bleach add 2 drops of bleach to a quart (1 litre) of water; ½ teaspoon bleach to 5 gallons (20 litres) water; or 4 ½ teaspoon of bleach to 45 gallons (170 litres) water. Each bleach and water solution must be mixed well and left for 30 minutes before use.

To treat water using the boiling method, allow water to "boil up" for at least 5 minutes before removing from the fire.

Proper hand washing is also strongly encouraged, especially at schools. Hands must be washed with soap and clean water and dried with a clean disposal towel. Washing hands before meals and after using the toilet is extremely important.

"To prevent diseases and maintain good health it is important to store water in clean containers and also treat water before drinking, making ice, preparing food, washing fruits and vegetables. This is especially important if water is obtained from water trucks, springs, rivers, community tanks or domestic drums," Dr. Copeland reiterated.

For further information on water borne disease prevention, individuals and institutions are encouraged to call the Health Promotion Division in the Ministry of Health at 922-0024; 924-9668 or their local health department.