Over 97.7 percent of Bhutanese have access to improved drinking water.
Access, however, does not mean availability of safe drinking water.
“The number of diarrhoeal cases in our country never goes down.
We want to bring this trend down.” During the training, participants collect sample water from the nearby areas and perform contamination tests.
Apart from the physical parameters (odour, appearance, pH, taste, turbidity and conductivity), participants also look at the microbiological parameters that include the presence of E.Coli bacteria in the water sample.
A total of 32 health assistants from BHUs and CHUs from Trashigang and Trashiyangtse attended the training.
According to the BDWQS 2016, pH level of a safe drinking water must be between 6.5-8.5 and the turbidity of the water should be below five.
The presence of E.Coli bacteria is a direct indication of faeces contamination in the water,” said Chimmi Dorji.
BHUs and CHUs without Internet access can punch data via SMS, said Chimmi Dorji.
Once NWRL completes providing training across the country, a national drinking water report will be compiled.