“After 48 hours, the results were out, which showed that [the tap water] is suitable for drinking and no problems related to contamination in the resources and main tankers were reported. However, sewage water mixed [with the tap water] in these neighborhood caused by flooding,” Sherwan Jamal, the head of Sulaimani water directorate, said in a press conference.
He attributed the contamination to the breakage of the water pipes.
“The flood that hit the area caused cracks in the pipes and subsequently broke them,” he said, adding that the drinking water they provided homes did not include an extra amount of chlorine - noting that the results of tests conducted by local authorities proved.
Jamal clarified that an investigation was launched on Thursday that identified the affected areas.
On Saturday, the Sulaimani health directorate emphasized that heavy rainfall in the district had led to widespread flooding and contaminating the drinking water supply with wastewater.
Over 2,500 people sought treatment in Sharazoor district’s Shahid Raouf hospital over the past few days. Residents complained about contaminated municipal water and the lack of access to potable water.
