The Auditor-General’s 2010 Report has found that water supply to canteens of 10 primary schools contained unsafe levels of bacteria and metals.

The audit team had tested fresh water, treated water and water piped to the canteens in 13 schools.

NONE The water used at the canteen of SK Kg Kudong and Segamat, SK Sejagong, Batu Pahat contained “too high to count” levels of coliform and E coli.

The latter is exclusively found in fecal matter.

Water considered safe for consumption should have zero levels of coliform and E coli and a pH level of 6.5-9.

Other schools listed to have 'too high' levels of the bacteria, which causes food poisoning, were:

- SRJK (T) Ladang Lambak, Kluang

- SMK Alor Pasir, Tanah Merah

- SK Lata Rek, Kuala Krai

- SK Juara, Rompin

- SK Luat,  Lenggong

 

The results from SK Benggol Petai, Pasir Mas and SK Kuala Koyan, Kuala Lipis also showed 'too high to count' levels of coliform.

NONE Other schools which returned high levels of coliform and E coli were SRJK (T) Ladang Boh 1 in Cameron Highlands, with 700 strains of coliform and 500 strains of E coli per 100ml of water used in the canteen.

Water in SK Benggol Petai showed traces of metals like arsenic and manganese at 0.019mg per litre and 0.19mg per litre respectively.

The safe level of arsenic is 0.010mg per litre while the safe level of manganese in water is 0.10mg per litre.

“The Ministry of Education is urged to stop the use of all water supply systems which are found to not adhere to health and safety standards, in order to improve the system and avoid spread of disease,” the report says.

Rusty water tanks

Water tanks in seven schools “were never maintained, are old, rusty and bulging”, according to the report.

NONE “All the tanks are the same age as the schools and have been in use for decades,” it says, naming SK Lata Rek, Kuala Krai and SK Pos Blau, Gua Musang as examples.

It also highlights that the water pipe in SK Lata Rek goes through the drain which channels refuse from the canteen.

The Education Ministry said that it had, at a meeting last April, decided to upgrade all water treatment systems to ensure that safety levels are satisfied.

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