A laboratory test of water from a residential building in Almaty detected Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The bacterium was found in samples of tap water and filtered water. The utility company Almaty Su stated that its own inspection found no deviations from the current sanitary standards.
WHAT THE TEST SHOWED
As reported by Time.kz on its Instagram page, the results of the inspection were described by the president of the National League of Consumers of Kazakhstan, Svetlana Romanovskaya.
The trigger was a complaint from a resident of a building at 64/4 Auezov Street. After installing a household filter, he decided to check the quality of the water and approached the accredited laboratory NUTRITEST LLP.
Specialists took water samples and found Pseudomonas aeruginosa in them. This opportunistic bacterium can cause infections of the respiratory tract, skin, eyes and urinary tract. It poses the greatest danger to people with weakened immune systems.
WHAT ALMATY SU SAID
After the consumers' complaint, Almaty Su staff carried out their own inspection. According to the company's response, the test results complied with the current hygiene standards, and no growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was recorded.
The company also confirmed that Pseudomonas aeruginosa is not included in the list of mandatory microbiological indicators for drinking water from centralised supplies. The Almaty Su laboratory is also not accredited to test for this micro-organism.
The utility company believes that the protocols submitted are insufficient to conclude that the bacterium is present in the city's water supply network.
WHY THE QUESTION AROSE OVER SANITARY STANDARDS
According to the National League of Consumers, the current requirements for tap water do not provide for mandatory monitoring of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. At the same time, the technical regulation of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) requires its absence in packaged drinking water.
The campaigners have sent an appeal to the Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan proposing that the standards be revised and that consideration be given to including the bacterium in the list of monitored indicators.
WATER TESTS IN OTHER DISTRICTS OF ALMATY
The National League of Consumers intends to push for testing of tap water in different districts of the city, including old residential buildings and new-builds.
Svetlana Romanovskaya recommends that residents boil water before drinking it.
For now, the tests concern individual samples from one building. There is no data confirming the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa throughout Almaty's entire water supply network.
