PN-BESI-TL conducted input tracking at the water system in Ermera municipality
The National Platform of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene of Timor-Leste (PN-BESI-TL) together with its members HAK, GFFTL, and partner Focal Point of FONGTIL Ermera municipality, local authorities of Lauala village and WaterAid Timor-Leste conducted input tracking and water quality test on 4th of July. The team did input tracking and tested the water quality at the Maukrous and Borleta water sources. The objective of the activities was to directly observe the condition and facilities of the water systems, the operation and maintenance systems, and including the quality of the water consuming by the community.
PB-BESI-TL with the team directly visited the Maukrous and Borleta springs at the Lauala village. Followed by direct observation to the water source and the facilities available such as the reservatory tank and water source protection system. Water quality test was conducted by the WASH & Climate Change Coordinator of WaterAid Timor-Leste at the water sources. Besides, the activity also participated by the Director of SMASA Ermera, Coordinator of BTL.EP and Coordinator of PNDS.
Along the way to the water source, the team observe that there is some damaged pipeline. The coordinator of BTL.EP took direct response to the Chief of Lauala village by handed new pipeline to the Chief of village for the maintenance to the damaged water pipeline.
After that, all the team, local authorities, municipal government, and the community continued to the community level discussion at the Lauala village office to collect information related to the water systems based on the Community score card indicators and mechanism and input the collected information to the mWater application including directly observe the accessibility and functionality of the installed public taps at the Lauala village.
The result of the water quality test was presented on the 5th of July at the municipal level WASH as Human Rights dialogue. The result showed that both Maukrous and Borleta water sources are highly contaminated to the E-Coli bacteria as MPN/100ml: 13.6, Upper 95% Confidence Interval/100ml: 83.06, Health Risk Category Based on MPN and Confidence Interval: High Risk/Possibly Unsafe. Therefore, the team recommended to the community to not direclty consume the water. And the Chief of Lauala village, Mr. Tome de Deus after the workshop also express his commitment to organize the community to share the result of the water quality test and take technical actions to resolve the contaminated water at his water sources.
This activity is supported by the Australian Government through Water for Women and implemented by WaterAid Timor-Leste and its implementing partners PN-BESI-TL, HAK Association, and GFFTL.
