Diarrhoea causing germs found in water tanks at Byletts School

Escherichia coli, commonly known as E.coli bacteria has been found in water tanks providing water to Byletts Combined School at Mooiplaas.

According to the World Health Organisation, E. coli, a bacteria commonly found in the intestines of humans and other warm-blooded animals,.

An E. coli infection is transmitted through consumption of contaminated water or food.

Pupils at Byletts have suffered recurring bouts of stomach cramps and diarrhoea since the start of the school year, with negative implications on teaching and learning.

The most recent of the incidents happened last Monday, when 37 pupils were ferried by six ambulances to Frere Hospital and Empilweni Clinic at Gompo for emergency treatment. Three pupils were fetched by their parents.

No pupils were admitted to hospital but authorities have now said that a laboratory report pointed to the E. coli bacteria.

Health spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said schools should undergo regular health inspections to prevent the occurrence of such incidents.

“Health environmental officers should conduct thorough inspections on containers that house water and foods. The school's governing body should have a committee that is responsible for the health and safety at the school.

“There have been too many cases where pupils fall ill at schools because of contaminated food or water. Schools shouldn't wait until something happens. If containers of water or food are not maintained then they will become toxic,” said Kupelo. 

The Amathole district municipality (ADM) was contacted for comment but had not responded to Dispatch questions by deadline on Sunday.  

Byletts, which caters for 605 pupils, has experienced severe water shortages since March last year.

The school, which has a boarding facility attached, needs 30,000 litres of water a day to operate optimally.

The water supply system at the school is dependent on an elevated storage tank and rain water harvest tanks.

School principal Monde Yeko said a lab report, of the first incident, from ADM showed it was the contaminated tanks which had caused pupils to fall sick.

The incident happened on February 10 and 17 pupils needed medical attention.

“The lab results showed a presence of E. coli bacteria which was the result of bird droppings in the tanks. A case of food poisoning was also questioned but no bacteria was found in the food. With the latest incident, Amatola Water specialists came to the school to evaluate the tanks and the sewage system,” said Yeko.

Amatola Water spokesperson Nosisa Sogayise said the water services utility specialists would clean the school's tanks.

She said Amatola Water has a contract with a water supplier of potable water to deliver water to the school as the boreholes supplying raw water to the school had dried up due to the drought.

She said an earlier complaint regarding dirty water at the school had been addressed.

“The water was tested and the report showed that the tank into which they poured the water could have been dirty. The issue was resolved,” Sogayise said.

She said potential sites had been identified for borehole drilling. She encouraged the school to engage in water harvesting methods.  

When the Dispatch visited the school last week, parents and teachers said the water situation gave rise to unhygienic learning conditions.

gugup@dispatch.co.za