Gachagi-ini slums residents in Kamenu Ward have been advised against using water in open holes and wells as they may risk getting infected with serious diseases like cholera, typhoid and other waterborne diseases.
Speaking in the slum during a public health sensitisation exercise on Monday, Makongeni Dispensary Chief Health Officer Paul Mwathi said that many residents in the area were using water from such sources without knowing the risks involved.
"Water from open holes and wells pose a huge risk to residents whether they are using it for consumption purposes like cooking, drinking, washing clothes or any other thing. Disease-causing organisms like flatworms that cause bilharzia can be in such water and even coming into contact with it is hazardous enough," said Mwathi.
He further noted that malaria-causing mosquitoes could also be breeding and residing in the water and asked residents to make use of treated mosquito nets.
"Most of these holes have become breeding grounds for mosquitoes adding another risk of residents contracting malaria. It would even be better if they were buried," he added.
However, residents say that they don't have a reliable alternative source of water and they would continue using it.
"Not that we like using this water, but it is the only one that is available. We cannot afford to buy water for all purposes and that is why we use it to clean clothes, wash and use it for other domestic purposes despite the risks involved," said Jane Wangui, a resident.
Most of the water, residents say, is the one that collected in the open holes following last year's El~Nino rains.