No evidence links water to diarrhoea outbreak - WUC
The Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) in Botswana has denied any link between its treated water supply and a recent diarrhoeal outbreak that caused eight deaths. The corporation maintains that its water consistently meets quality standards and that it has sufficient treatment supplies.
Why it matters
Public health crises often trigger concerns about infrastructure safety, and official verification is essential to prevent panic and ensure public trust in utility services.
The reassurance came after the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs reported 454 cases of diarrhoea involving dehydration and eight deaths amongst children under five. The ministry reported that it has noted a concentration of these cases from Gaborone, Mahalapye, Boteti, Letlhakeng, Francistown and Palapye. As the ministry reported this, the public grew weary, and some even thought the issue might be the water supply, as the public was advised to drink safe, treated, or boiled water.In a response to a questionnaire sent by this publication, WUC said it has been continuously monitoring and testing water in areas affected by the outbreak, including the aforementioned places. “Routine compliance monitoring continues to demonstrate that treated water supplied to consumers meets the applicable drinking water quality standard,” WUC responded.
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