Communities in Phalombe are at risk of contracting waterborne diseases as the district council has no water treatment plant.
The development has compelled the district council to supply untreated water from rivers to rural communities through taps.
In an interview on Tuesday, district water officer Boston Tambala confirmed that the council has no water treatment plant; hence, the decision to supply untreated water to rural masses in the district.
He said: “Water treatment is important to the human health. We are optimistic that some well-wishers will help communities with chlorine to treat the water at household level.”
Tambala said only people around the boma are privileged to drink safe water from Southern Region Water Board which is treated at its water treatment plant right at Phalombe boma.
However, when asked if the consumption of untreated water by the rural masses has any effects on people’s health, Phalombe district health officer (DHO) Ketwin Kondowe said the district has not registered waterborne-related diseases such as cholera and typhoid for the past three years.
