Calamba Water District line not connected to creek with poliovirus

The Calamba Water District on Wednesday clarified that their water line was not connected to a creek contaminated with poliovirus.

According to Calamba Water District general manager Exequiel Aguilar Jr., their water source for households in the city was in a different location.

“Ang amin pong linya ay hindi naman connected sa Ligasong Creek. Ang amin pong water source ay nasa Bucal Spring. Nasisiguro po namin na hindi po maco-contaminate ng poliovirus ang amin pong water supply… Nothing to worry po at kami po naman ay ginagawa po namin lahat para po mapanatili yung kredebilidad ng malinis na tubig dito po sa siyudad ng Calamba,” he explained.

(Our line is not connected to Ligasong Creek. Our water source is in Bucal Spring. We make sure that the poliovirus does not contaminate our water supply. Nothing to worry about, and we are doing all we can to maintain the credibility of clean water here in the city of Calamba.)

They would also conduct further testing of their lines to ensure consumers that their water supply is clean.

“We can do parallel testing…Magpapakuha rin po kami ng testing sa Ligasong Areek at same time siguro magpapatest din kami sa Bucal para matapos ang issue na ‘to,” Aguilar added.

(We can do parallel testing. We would also test Ligasong Areek and, at the same time, the water from Bucal to settle this issue.)

Also read: Polio outbreak in PH linked to Dengvaxia controversy

Creek with poliovirus not connected to Calamba Water District line

The City Health Office and the Barangay Bucal government had earlier confirmed that the waters in Ligasong Creek, located between Barangay Bucal and Barangay Halang in the city, have contracted poliovirus.

The City Health Office warned residents to avoid going down on the creek to prevent poliovirus infection.

“Huwag na huwag dudumi diretso doon sa creek o kaya magtapon ng mga basura lalo na ang mga diaper…Iwasan munang lumusong sa tubig na ‘yun. Kasi mamaya accidentally mapunta sa kanilang bibig ‘yung tubig o may malunok silang tubig ay pwedeng magkaroon ng problema. Walang poliovirus case rito sa Calamba,” said Dr. Dennis Labro, city health officer of Calamba.

(Don’t defecate or dump garbage, especially diapers to the creek. Avoid dipping in that water. The water could go to your mouth, or worse, you could swallow it. We have no poliovirus case here in Calamba.)

It was September 2019 a polio case was reported in Calamba City.

The CHO also ensures that they conduct their monthly water testing on the San Juan River and Ligason Creek.