Lebanon fixes water mains after 130 people poisoned

Newspapers reported that scores of people had been admitted to hospital in the Bekaa Valley after drinking contaminated water

September 20, 2000, 08:54 AM

BEIRUT (Reuters)

- Lebanese health officials have started repairing the water network around the eastern Qaraoun lake where 130 people were poisoned last week by sewage-tainted water, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

Beirut newspapers reported that scores of people had been admitted to hospital in the Bekaa Valley after drinking contaminated water. A Health Ministry spokesman said the condition of most victims was not serious and the incident had been contained.

Health officials banned residents from using water from the mains when they discovered that the pipes had cracked and were letting in sewage seeping out from another set of damaged pipes.

Local reservoirs were not polluted.

Most of Lebanons fresh water comes from underground reservoirs which are filled each year by rain and snow.

http://www.arabia.com/article/0,1690,News|29238,00.html

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), September 20, 2000