The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) has reiterated that the tap water it supplies is safe and meets World Health Organization (WHO) standards at the point of treatment.
This assurance came during a recent public engagement in Gulu City, where concerns were raised about the quality of piped water.
Anthony Opiyo, the Deputy Town Clerk of Pece-Laroo Division, shared his personal experience with typhoid, which he linked to drinking tap water, adding that he does not face similar issues when drinking from boreholes or streams.
In response, NWSC attributed such health concerns to what it termed “secondary contamination” a result of illegal water connections, poor household plumbing, and improper handling by consumers.
Proscovia Nyamungu, NWSC’s Commercial Officer for Gulu area, explained that the utility rigorously tests water at both the treatment and household levels. However, she pointed to harmful practices by some community members like tampering with pipes to draw free water as significant causes of contamination.
She further emphasized the role of individual households in maintaining water safety, urging residents to regularly clean their storage tanks, ensure proper hygiene around water points, and boil water before use.
NWSC Public Relations Officer Ivan Tekakwo reinforced this message, noting that while the water leaves the treatment plants clean, its safety can be compromised along the way due to human activities.
Residents also raised concerns about instances of dirty or discolored water flowing from taps, especially during routine maintenance of storage tanks. Nyamungu acknowledged the communication lapses and said the corporation is stepping up efforts to inform the public in advance using platforms like WhatsApp and local radio.
Access to safe drinking water continues to be a pressing public health challenge in Uganda. According to WHO, diarrheal diseases often linked to poor water, sanitation, and hygiene claim the lives of nearly 23,000 people annually, with children under five accounting for the majority of deaths.