Ministry of Health Undersecretary, Ibrahim Al-Abdulhadi, recently revealed that the results of tests conducted from samples taken from beaches around the country which reportedly indicated that they contained traces of the cholera bacteria were inaccurate. He maintained that the detected substances were traces of a form of bacteria similar to cholera which appears in fish infected by pollution.

Moreover, Al-Abdulhadi did not rule out the possibility of the cholera bacteria to emerge, stating that teams of the Environment Public Authority (EPA) were following this matter and working promptly to prevent the emergence of this bacteria from happening.

Al-Abdulhadi pointed out that all medical teams have been placed on high alert and indicated that the recent increase in the cases of diarrhea were not connected with infection of the cholera bacteria.

On a related note, Ministry of Electricity and Water undersecretary assistant for power and water desalination plants, Abdulkhaliq Murad, assured that drinking water produced from desalination plants was safe, adding that all bacteria and harmful substances would be totally eliminated through the desalination process.

Murad also said that the ministry tests the waters produced by the desalination plants nonetheless prior to pumping them into the water distribution networks and on to customers' homes, Al-Rai reported.

Information indicated that the EPA has taken precautionary measures against any possible marine life death crisis. This included contacting several countries who have more experience in that regard, such as Japan.

Meanwhile, new information regarding reasons behind the Mishref sewage plant problem suggested that a malfunction occurred at the plant only five days after the Ministry of Public Works officially received it and four days after beginning operations there.

The company that worked to establish the project revealed that they gave the project to the Ministry on Aug 19 while operations there proceeded the following day. Four days later, on Aug 24, the plant went out of service.

Furthermore, the company said it was holding the ministry accountable for the crisis because they said they have updated them with any potential problems that could occur at the plant. They recommended that the temperature at the electrical room should not surpass 25 degrees in order to protect it from malfunctions.

Meanwhile, the official spokesman of the technical committee designated to solve the matter, Dr. Salah Al-Madahi, said that a temporary plant for sewage water was put into service on Tuesday. It will be pumping 15 percent of sewage water quantities while it is expected to be followed with another plant that will pump another 15 percent. These two plants will work together in order reduce the level of pollution in the sea, he said.

On a related note, Capt. Ali Haidar revealed that a number of owners of buildings have been arrested after they were spotted pumping the sewage water of their buildings down rain water drains, Al-Qabas reported. Police said that such actions were absolutely unacceptable and that violators will be discovered and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Kuwaittimes