James Kefas, 26, Sales Rep., Kuje, Abuja I usually drink bottled and sachet water, but sometimes water from a borehole. Borehole water is safe depending on its depth. If it’s deeper, it’s always purer. Although water from boreholes generally have a salty taste, there’s a process it can pass through to clear off. According to doctors, […]
James Kefas, 26, Sales Rep., Kuje, Abuja
I usually drink bottled and sachet water, but sometimes water from a borehole. Borehole water is safe depending on its depth. If it’s deeper, it’s always purer. Although water from boreholes generally have a salty taste, there’s a process it can pass through to clear off. According to doctors, salty water can harm some people. Once, I drank sachet water and it made me have diarrhoea so It’s not that safe. I heard of a place in Wuse where scavengers deliver empty water bottles and they are refilled and sold. But I haven’t confirmed the information.
Garba Kafte, 48, Trader, Utako, Abuja
I think the tap water I drink in Abuja has a good taste and is healthy. I have never fallen victim of typhoid. However, well water is totally unsafe and I stopped taking it.
Michael Abba, 28, Electrician, Mararaba, Abuja
I used to drink mainly water from boreholes. However, it’s not good enough because it isn’t pure. I was advised to stop drinking from that source because I experienced weakness of the body in the mornings. Now I take pure water, but I have my eyes on particular brands I think are safe. Bottled water on the other hand I find very safe.
Mrs. Margaret Nicholas, 34, Public Servant, Kuje, Abuja
If I am taking water from a borehole and because I know there are usually sediments in it, I use water guard. However, I know I can’t give my baby from that same source. I do this to avoid typhoid and other water borne diseases. It’s safe when I use water guard because it kills the germs. When I take sachet water (pure water), I choose carefully because some have sediments. It is better you boil your water.
Ibrahim Maikilishi, 45, Trader, Utako, Abuja
I drink sachet water or directly from the pump. It’s what we humble folk can afford. Sometimes I get to drink water from a borehole too. I don’t worry about that and don’t really know whether the water has a negative effect on my health since I am not a doctor. But I generally don’t have a problem with the water I drink.
Hussaini Abubakar, 30, Local Medicine Seller, Utako, Abuja
When I am in Bauchi I drink tap water and when it is not available I go to the river. Here in Abuja I always buy sachet water. Whatever you take daily doesn’t affect you negatively. True, there are numerous diseases, but one cannot clearly say it is as a result of the water he drinks.
Mohammed Bello, 25, Trader, Abuja
I drink tap water. When it’s not there we go to the river. I have no fear because before we were born our parents drank there. We were raised that way and the same applies to our children.
Abuja is a mountainous region and is supposed to have good water, so one wonders why we don’t. I drink mainly sachet water and bottled water. In other countries you turn on your tap and there you have water. Here in Nigeria we are driven to drink what is available due to our environment. I don’t really know how NAFDAC monitors these water producing organisations, whether they look at the production process or not. I once saw a mosquito in bottled water, so it’s confusing, really, how this can happen. It’s not safe at all. Sachet water on the other hand has bad taste. I had to return some I bought recently for that same reason.
