‘Los Baños communities lack access to clean drinking water’

MANILA, Philippines — Some communities in Los Baños, Laguna still lack access to safe and clean drinking water, a study conducted by the University of the Philippines-Los Baños showed.

The UPLB’s office of the vice president for academic affairs said water samples collected from artesian wells in select barangays in Los Baños tested positive for escherichia coli or e. coli, a bacteria often found in human feces.

The report said that of the 30 water samples, eight tested positive for fecal contamination, three of which were due to e. coli.

Testing for e. coli isolates showed the bacteria were resistant to antibiotics, with one isolate resistant to four antibiotics used in the study.

The study also revealed that 10 households source their drinking water from a well where the sample with an antibiotic-resistant e. coli was collected.

The report said a majority of rural communities rely on artesian wells as their primary source of water due to the rising cost of or inaccessibility to commercial water.

Since water in artesian wells is not treated and not tested regularly, this may contain microorganisms that can cause diseases including those resistant to antibiotics.

“With this, it is imperative to educate the community about the risks associated with consuming contaminated water. More importantly, regular monitoring of artesian well water and providing (communities)access to safe drinking water by local government units are recommended,” the report said.

The study aims to raise awareness about the presence of multidrug-resistant bacteria, specifically e. coli in water sources like artesian wells, which is an indicator of fecal contamination.