BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Brunei's Public Works Department (JKR) at the Ministry of Development on Friday reassured that although some areas have received "yellowish water", the critical parameters for safe potable water as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) are "very well still within the WHO standard despite aesthetically different to the norm."
This is the Bruneian government's second time assurance in about one week. JKR announced on February 8 that in view of the rainy season and floods in some parts of the country, the department has conducted monitoring efforts on the water quality since October 2017, and found that the water supply "still complies with the WHO standard guidelines for drinking water."
However, one week later, there is apparently no diminishing concern about the color of tap water. Some Bruneians complained on social media that they found yellow or other colour suspensions in the running water after recent heavy rainfall, which made them hesitated to drink.
"We have been using the yellow color running water for several weeks. We worry about the potential harm to our health when using it for cooking, drinking and shower", Mohd Rahman, a local living in Gadong, Bandar Seri Begawan's central area told Xinhua on Friday."Now, for cooking and drinking my family use mineral water."
In Friday's announcement, JKR said that in view of the water color complaints, it is monitoring the situation and continuously undertaking efforts on ensuring the status of water quality.
"During periods of rainy seasons, the state of the raw water extracted from rivers are very high in organic material, which in part contributes to a very high Hazen or water color level. This in itself is very difficult and complex to treat," JKR said.
"Regardless, the department would like to assure the public that slight water color changes are of no immediate alarm and is generally safe for potable use. Further the Department would like to assure the public that every step is being taken to ensure water color returns back to the norm", JKR added.
Besides local Bruneians, some international visitors living in the Empire Hotel and Country Club, the sultanate's most extravagant hotel, told Xinhua that they also found the worrying colored water from the hotel taps. At the same time, several salesmen of local supermarkets told Xinhua that bottled water has been enjoying good sale recently, with some big-bottle types even out of stock.
Despite assurance of the water quality, JKR in its last announcement advised the public to boil their water for the beverage needs first as part of additional precautions.
