THE National Water Commission (NWC) says the increased levels of bacteria found in the Manchester water catchment tanks do not affect the quality of the water supply system it operates in the parish.

The NWC’s statement on Tuesday was made against the background of an article published in the Observer last Friday, which highlighted the health department’s concern that 98 per cent of the parish’s 61 water catchment tanks were posing a major health risk from increased levels of bacteria.

The NWC’s corporate public relations manager, Charles Buchanan, said the NWC continues to strive for the highest standards and implements measures to effectively treat, test and deliver potable water to its customers that meets the standard of the Ministry of Health and World Health Organisation. Additionally, he pointed out that the NWC does not operate any of the catchment tank systems in Manchester.

“Everyday the NWC harnesses, treats and distributes about 190 million gallons of water to customers islandwide. The rigorous water quality process employed by the NWC ensures that we are able to correct problems at the earliest,” Buchanan said in a release.

“In a view of the undue alarm that may be created in the minds of our customers, the NWC wishes to assure its customers, especially in Manchester that the water supplied by us remains safe and is fit for consumption.”

Meanwhile, Wayne Mitchell, deputy superintendent of road and works in the Manchester Parish Council, said the bacteria found in the catchment tanks were due to the chlorine used to treat the water, which weakens quickly under direct sunlight.

“When we do the [chlorine residual test] in the morning, by the afternoon the following day, basically the results are pretty low…,” Mitchell told the council’s Board of Health and Environmental Sanitation meeting.

The reports said that of 135 chlorine samples taken in November, 36 showed an absence of chlorine in the catchment tanks. Of 123 samples taken the following month, 52 showed an absence of chlorine.

Additionally, a bacteriological analysis of water in the parish revealed that of 61 samples taken in the month of November, 12 indicated unsafe levels of bacteria, while 49 were safe. Of 64 samples, 17 indicated unsafe levels of bacteria when tested in December.