If you are one of those who buy water from vending machines conveniently found outside your apartment building or colleges, it might be a good idea to stop doing it for the time being.
On Tuesday, The Star reported that 29 samples of water taken from vending machines throughout the Klang Valley were contaminated.
The contaminations were harmful ones in the form of E.coli, Coliform and Clostridium perfringens microfobes. These are the same kind of bacteria found in untreated sewage. And, it gets worse. Coliform and Clostridium perfringens are the same kind of bacteria found in human and animal faeces. Malaysia’s Safe Drinking Water Act states that there should not be any trace of Coliform or E.coli in drinking water.
The Star, together with Forum Air Malaysia, an organisation formed to assist the National Water Services Commission, conducted tests on water samples taken from vending machines in Subang Jaya, Cheras, Klang and Kuala Lumpur. Forum Air Malaysia tested 14 samples in April, and The Star screened 15. The results showed that there were no traces of free chlorine or fluoride; chemicals needed to kill bacteria in water.
According to Forum Air research and policy executive Jesslyn Pek, it was worrying because out of the 14 water samples taken, six were found to have either Coliform or E.coli, and did not contain any free chlorine or fluoride.
The Star conducted 15 tests with an accredited lab and all 15 samples contained Coliform and Clostridium perfringens.
After being alerted by The Star, the Health Ministry has requested for full water test results.
Story and quote from: The Star
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