Keeping water sources safe

Many people like swimming for either exercise or leisure whereas others want a cool temperature on their bodies. In Rwanda people tend to visit hotels for swimming and others carryout their swimming at the Nyarutarama Golf Club artificial lake. This lake like many other water reservoirs with stagnant water is prone to having water borne diseases. Waterborne diseases are caused by organisms that are directly spread through water. Water-related illnesses can be acquired due to a lack of water for good hygiene, lack of sanitation, or increasing insect populations that breed in water and then spread disease. The most common waterborne diseases are cholera and diarrhea especially in children. These are spread through ingestion of water or its contact with the skin and body surface where germs and other micro-organism enter the body. It is important to know how these diseases and contaminants affect a person, where they are found, and how you can reduce the chances of getting ill. This helps us to take decisions about the water we use so that we improve its hygiene and sanitation. Drinking water comes from a variety of sources including public water systems, wells, or bottled water. Ensuring safe and healthy drinking water may be as simple as boiling water from the connected to a public water system. Other water sources may need a water filter, a check on water fluoridation, or an inspection to ensure a septic tank is not too close to a private well. It is important to know where drinking water comes from, how it’s been treated, and if it is safe to drink. Swimming and other water-related activities are excellent ways to stay physically fit for a healthy life. However, it is important to be aware of ways to prevent adverse water related health events such as recreational water illnesses and others such as injuries and drowning. Access to safe water, adequate sanitation, and proper hygiene education reduces the risk to illness and death from waterborne diseases. However, many countries are challenged to provide these basic necessities to their populations. Authorities in charge of water systems such as Electrogaz need to install programs that ensure that communities have access to safe water and also provide household water treatment options. Preventing pathogens from being drawn into the distribution system by maintaining continuous positive pressure and preserving barriers between public water supplies, sewage and storm water drainage. josephmunich06@yahoo.co.uk