Venezuela's water system is collapsing as a million people exposed to contaminated supply

[Bacchus4.0]

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/venezeula-water-system-collapse-contaminated-supply-disease-a9163566.html

In Venezuela, a crumbling economy and the collapse of even basic state infrastructure means water comes irregularly — and drinking it is an increasingly risky gamble. Venezuela’s current rate of infant mortality from diarrhoea, which is closely related to water quality, is six times higher than 15 years ago, according to the World Health Organisation

The scientists found that about 1 million residents were exposed to contaminated supplies. This puts them at risk of contracting waterborne viruses that could sicken them and threatens the lives of children and the most vulnerable.

“This is a potential epidemic,” said Jose Maria De Viana, who headed Caracas’ water utility, Hidrocapital, until 1999. “It’s very serious. It’s unacceptable.”


This should have required Hidrocapital to issue a sanitation alert, according to the utility’s own internal regulations. But Venezuela’s government has not issued any alerts at least since President Nicolas Maduro’s Socialist Party took power 20 years ago.