Jul 31, Kathmandu - Kathmandu Metropolitan City has urged consumers to use only boiled water, citing the high risk of water-borne infections during the monsoon season.

The KMC has urged consumers to use only boiled drinking water, saying that since water is available everywhere during the monsoon season, production companies may sell it against standards.

Nuranidhi Neupane, Chief of the Agriculture and Livestock Department of KMC, said that KMC is conducting regular monitoring of the drinking water production, transportation and distribution system to reduce water-related risks, emphasizing that consumers should also drink only boiled water.

He informed that during the monitoring conducted by KMC in Ashadha alone, 159 jars carrying drinking water that were found to be in violation of standards were destroyed. During the monitoring, KMC has mobilized teams at various water import points and is regularly monitoring the vehicles and jars of entrepreneurs providing water treatment services to meet the needs of the city residents.

Department chief Neupane mentioned that the KMC destroyed the jars found to be non-compliant during the monitoring process. The KMC has also urged everyone not to use crushed, cracked, or opaque jars where the water inside is not visible.

Neupane informed that water producing companies that were found to have weaknesses have been instructed not to sell jars processed against standards, to put clear labels on the jars, and to carry the bill of lading issued by the company in their vehicles.

Similarly, KMC is preparing to test drinking water samples at the community level to control cholera. Along with the water sample testing, preparations are underway to start an orientation program in each ward of KMC, informed Rishi Bhusal, the ‘focal person’ for epidemic prevention and control of KMC.

According to him, KMC is planning to start work for control, anticipating that cholera patients may increase as the monsoon has arrived earlier this year than last year and it is raining regularly. In previous years, cholera patients were found in Balkhu, Kalimati, and Tankeshwor areas.