Best to boil tap water first, no thanks to rusty old pipes, says Dr Lee

BATU GAJAH: Tap water should be boiled first before it is safe for consumption, says Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye.

He said this was because processed water from the treatment plant was channelled through pipes, which could be old and rusty, reported Bernama.

"Pipe water, which has been processed through the water treatment plant can be consumed directly because it is processed based on the standards set.

"But when it goes through the pipes, which is several kilometres long before the water reaches a home, we do not know if it is still safe for consumption," he told reporters this after a meet the people programme at Kampung Baru MTD here Sunday (Oct 21).

Dr Lee added that it was best not to drink water directly from the taps, but to boil it first.

He was responding to the statement by Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar, who recently said that water is safe to be consumed straight from the taps.

National Water Service Commission (Span) CEO Datuk Mohd Ridhuan Ismal had also said on Saturday (Oct 20) that the water supply system in the country is not only clean and safe to be consumed, but is free from E. coli bacteria.