ISRAEL-OPT: Fear that sewage may contaminate drinking water

[DogPoundPup]

snip~
Many pipes were damaged by the Israeli bombardment, meaning that when water is delivered under pressure to houses, the damaged pipes suck in air and possibly sewage, according to Majed Ghannam, the water quality manager at the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU), Gaza’s water utility.

“The most dangerous thing is the contamination of drinking water with sewage. We need an international organisation like the World Health Organization to investigate the matter,” said Monther Shoblak, the CMWU director-general.

Repairs hampered

“Eight main water artesian wells were either fully or partially destroyed during the bombardments,” Shoblak said.

But repair work is hampered by import bans. Israel has banned imports of items such as pipes, saying they may be used for making bombs. The CMWU was also not able to import excavators, heavy vehicles, and other specialist equipment. During the Israeli offensive virtually no repair work could be carried out, Shoblak said, adding: “Eight repair workers were killed in the Israeli attacks.”

http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=82645

[oberliner]

1. This is a major problem

Hopefully the WHO can get involved to improve the situation.