KUWAIT CITY, June 7: An internal memo has revealed that the Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) knew since last year that Kuwait’s water sources were polluted with cancer-causing bromide, reports Al-Shahed daily.
The memo was sent by Assistant Undersecretary for Planning, Training and Water Projects Misha’an Al-Otaibi to the ministry’s undersecretary. Al-Misha’an had recommended in the memo, which is dated July 27th, 2010, that the ministry use carbon dioxide to purify drinking water in Kuwait. Al-Misha’an cites the high concentration of bromide in waters produced from Al-Wafra wells as a reason for expediting the use of carbon dioxide in Al-Zor water distribution complex. The slightly salty waters from Al-Wafra wells are mixed with distilled waters produced by South Al-Zor power and water plant.
The municipality had already reported that water in Kuwait has high level of bromide.
Meanwhile, electricity overload and other electrical problems are common in traditional houses in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh due to overcrowding, reports Al-Seyassah daily quoting acting Assistant Undersecretary for Distribution Networks at the Ministry of Electricity and Water Abdulwahab Al-Turky.
Al-Turky pointed out bachelors reside in these houses in large numbers, so each housing unit consumes more electricity. He said the electricity allocated for each house is only 200 kilowatts but the actual consumption reaches 400 kilowatts.
He stressed this leads to explosions due to electricity overload, citing nine such incidents reported in 2007. He added the ministry will disconnect electricity from these houses and prevent the tenants from boosting power supply to avoid explosions, fire and other problems.