[UPDATED] WASA: Independent lab testing for Maracas St Joseph water supply

EVEN as the Water and Sewerage Authority Authority (WASA) assures the water quality in Maracas St Joseph meets the World Health Organization’s standards, attorneys for one resident are threatening legal action.

On September 13, attorneys for a Valley View resident called on WASA to provide the results of any tests done on the water in the valley.

“We demand on behalf of our client, that any test results, from testing conducted by WASA, be immediately disclosed to our client in the event that some form of specialised treatment is needed and to prevent possible fatal consequences.

“We also ask that WASA agree to urgently commission an independent expert to review these
results and conduct independent testing,” attorney Rajiv Sochan said in a pre-action letter.

Newsday understands other residents have since come forward and similar letters are expected to be sent in the coming days.

Sochan said their client and her pets fell ill suddenly, last week. They had vomiting, nausea, lethargy and diarrhoea. The letter said neighbours and wider parts of the community have also had the same complaints.

“Both humans and animals have been experiencing severe and identical symptoms.”
The letter questioned whether a pathogen was present in the community, possibly through the water supply.

However, in a statement on September 13, WASA said in response to reports of possible water contamination, lab personnel were directed to carry out water-quality sampling and testing and several locations along the distribution system and the two water treatment facilities in the area: L&N and Acono plants.

“It is important to note that the results of all the samples taken have confirmed that the water supply leaving both plants and along the distribution system meets WHO standards and is, therefore, safe for use.

“The authority will continue to closely monitor and carry out further testing of the supply in the Maracas Valley area to ensure that these standards are consistently met.”

The Health Ministry in a Facebook post on Saturday, dismissed reports of “food poisoning” in Maracas St Joseph as “fake news.”

The authority sent a follow-up statement on September 15, and said "notwithstanding the safe results obtained from internal tests on the water supply to the area, an independent lab has also been engaged to conduct further tests, in order to verify the quality of the supply being produced and distributed to Maracas Valley."

The statement said tests now include bacterial tests which are negative.

"However, if customers are of the view that their water supply may be contaminated, in the interim and as a precautionary measure customers can boil water that is to be used for drinking purposes," the authority advised.

"The authority assures customers that it remains committed to providing the highest quality water supply in keeping with World Health Organization (WHO) standards."

This story has been updated to include additional details. Please see the original story with the headline 'Maracas St Joseph resident demands water report after falling ill' below.

EVEN as the Water and Sewerage Authority Authority (WASA) assures the water quality in Maracas St Joseph meets the World Health Organization’s standards, attorneys for one resident are threatening legal action.

On September 13, attorneys for a Valley View resident called on WASA to provide the results of any tests done on the water in the valley.

“We demand on behalf of our client, that any test results, from testing conducted by WASA, be immediately disclosed to our client in the event that some form of specialised treatment is needed and to prevent possible fatal consequences.

“We also ask that WASA agree to urgently commission an independent expert to review these results and conduct independent testing,” attorney Rajiv Sochan said in a pre-action letter.

Newsday understands other residents have since come forward and similar letters are expected to be sent in the coming days.

Sochan said their client and her pets fell ill suddenly, last week. They had vomiting, nausea, lethargy and diarrhoea. The letter said neighbours and wider parts of the community have also had the same complaints.

“Both humans and animals have been experiencing severe and identical symptoms.”

The letter questioned whether a pathogen was present in the community, possibly through the water supply.

However, in a statement on September 13, WASA said in response to reports of possible water contamination, lab personnel were directed to carry out water-quality sampling and testing and several locations along the distribution system and the two water treatment facilities in the area: L&N and Acono plants.

“It is important to note that the results of all the samples taken have confirmed that the water supply leaving both plants and along the distribution system meets WHO standards and is, therefore, safe for use.

“The authority will continue to closely monitor and carry out further testing of the supply in the Maracas Valley area to ensure that these standards are consistently met.”

The Health Ministry in a Facebook post on Saturday, dismissed reports of “food poisoning” in Maracas St Joseph as “fake news.”