MANILA, Philippines – Did it ever cross your mind that your drinking water can get you sick?
Many do not mind drinking water served at restaurants. Drinking bottled water is also very common. And according to a 2013 report by consumer insight company Kantar Worldpanel, around 40 percent of Philippine households rely on water refilling stations for safe drinking water.
But there were some patients who suffered from diarrhea and stomach pains who said that they only consumed water from a water refilling station or a restaurant before getting sick.
Is it really possible that the water you drink can make you sick even if you trust the source?
Here are at least four of the common waterborne diseases you can get by drinking contaminated water, which can actually sometimes come from your trusted water source:
Amoebiasis
Amoebiasis is caused by a parasite called Entamoeba histolytica which can be found in food and water with fecal contamination and causes weight loss, watery and sometimes bloody stool and abdominal pain, especially in case of amoebic liver abscesses.
It is common in tropical places where sanitary conditions are poor. Amoebiasis may be present in the local population and can be transmitted through physical contact or ingesting food or water that is fecally contaminated.
The parasite may persist in the intestine of an infected person for months or even years without any symptoms. There is always, however, the risk of it developing into a more serious illness.
Diarrhea
One has diarrhea when he or she passes liquid stools thrice or more a day. The disease is a symptom of an intestinal infection like amoebiasis.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), diarrhea is one of the lead causes of malnutrition and the second leading cause of death in children aged five and below. Most patients die from severe dehydration.
Cholera
Cholera is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, infecting the digestive system and causing vomiting, watery stools and severe dehydration, among other symptoms.
One contracts cholera when he or she has ingested some food or drank water that is contaminated by the bacteria.
Cholera can be fatal given its incubation period of only two hours to five days. In fact, there are up to 120,000 cholera-related deaths every year according to WHO.
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Typhoid Fever
Typhoid fever is characterized by symptoms such as consistently high fever, weakness, diarrhea, and anorexia. It is caused by a bacterium called Salmonella typhi that lives in contaminated food and water.
Without prompt treatment, typhoid fever can affect many organs in the body, leading to serious complications that can be fatal.
The sad truth about typhoid fever is even if the symptoms go away, the infected person may still be carrying the bacteria and is therefore still capable of passing on the disease.
Contamination in water refilling stations
A lot of Filipino households rely on water refilling stations for clean and safe drinking water.
But a study done by The Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines reveals that although water from water refilling stations test negative for microorganisms, it can still get contaminated through unsanitized containers, poor personnel hygiene and improper handling, storage and transport of refilled water. Believe it or not, inappropriate personnel attire is also part of the list.
A recent independent research also found that around 70 percent of water refilling stations in Metro Manila do not fully meet the Department of Health’s guidelines: more than 80 percent are not using proper attire and 35 percent are not following proper cleaning procedure.
Thus, the risk of contamination remains considerably high even if water refilling stations are trusted by many households.
Better alternative
These waterborne diseases that can be contracted by simply drinking contaminated water are highly preventable. A smart preventive measure is purifying your own drinking water at home.
Despite the fact that purchasing from water refilling stations is the norm, the WHO and UNICEF actually endorse point-of-use water treatment through in-home water purifiers. This way, drinking water is directly treated right before it is consumed.
According to WHO, improvements in the quality of drinking water appear to be of significant benefit to health when the improvement is done close to the point of use, that is in the household.
In a report, the UNICEF said that treating water at the household level is one of the most effective and cost-effective means of preventing waterborne disease, especially in development and emergency settings.
World’s largest selling in-home water purifier Pureit
Unilever, one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies and maker of household brands such as Dove, Sunsilk, Surf, Knorr and Lipton, has recognized the urgent need to improve access to safe drinking water in developing countries. As a response, Unilever developed Pureit - an advanced system for water purification.
First introduced in India in 2006, Pureit is now available in 14 countries and has quickly become the world’s largest selling in-home water purifier brand.
Backed by Unilever’s expertise in research and development, Pureit uses breakthrough technology to provide families with safe drinking water that meets the US Environmental Protection Agency’s benchmarks for microbiological safety. (The USEPA is an agency of the US government responsible for creating and enforcing standards and laws that promote the health of individuals and the environment. It is known for having the most stringent standards for water safety.)
This is possible because Pureit uses a multi-stage purification process that removes all harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites, and eliminates metallic and chemical impurities such as rust, lead, chlorine and pesticides.
Your drinking water may not be safe. By using an in-home purifier like Pureit, you considerably reduce the risk of contracting diseases that contaminated water can cause.
Visit PureIt Philippines’ website for more details.
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