A significant health, social, and economic problem arises in developing countries with high concentrations of fluoride in ground drinking water, exceeding the World Health Organization’s standard values. This issue is particularly prevalent in the Ethiopian Rift Valley, where deep wells serve as the main source of drinking water.
Yeshiwas Mitiku, the General Manager of Bahta Health Center, emphasized in an exclusive interview with The Ethiopia Herald that access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene is a fundamental human need for overall health and well-being. However, unless progress quadruples, billions of people will still lack access to these basic services by 2030. The growing demand for water due to population growth, urbanization, and increasing agricultural, industrial, and energy needs further exacerbates the situation.
While providing communities with clean and safe water is essential, there are potential health risks associated with excessive fluoride levels. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in rocks, soil, and water. It is commonly added to public water supplies in controlled amounts to prevent tooth decay and promote dental health. However, when the fluoride concentration exceeds recommended levels, it can lead to a condition known as fluorosis.
Fluorosis is a dental and skeletal disorder that affects both children and adults. In mild cases, it may cause cosmetic issues such as white specks or streaks on the teeth. In severe cases, it can result in enamel pitting, discoloration, and skeletal fluorosis, which impacts the bones and joints.
Yeshiwas highlights that the adverse health effects of fluoride primarily arise from long-term exposure to high concentrations, often found in areas with naturally occurring fluoride-rich groundwater. In regions where water supplies are fluoridated, strict monitoring is in place to ensure fluoride concentrations remain within safe limits.
He emphasizes that achieving universal, adequate, and equitable access to safely managed water and sanitation services is crucial for sustainable development. Addressing the challenges posed by high fluoride concentrations in drinking water is essential to safeguard the health and well-being of communities.
Aniley Tade, Senior Sanitary Engineer at the Ministry of Health, stated that fluoride contamination remains a significant challenge in Ethiopia’s drinking water development projects, particularly in the Rift Valley region. Recognizing it as a serious waterborne health concern, the Ministry is actively seeking technological prevention mechanisms to address this issue. The Czech company has expressed its willingness to collaborate with Ethiopia on this matter.
Water purity is constantly threatened by various pollutants, including fluoride, which is prevalent throughout the universe. While fluoride is beneficial for enamel development when present in small concentrations of about 0.7 mg/l in drinking water, it poses serious health risks when detected in concentrations exceeding 1.5 mg/l.
To mitigate fluoride contamination, different de-fluoridation technologies are employed. However, several factors need to be considered when selecting the appropriate fluoride removal technology, including material cost and availability, capital investment and operating costs, simplicity in design and operation, by products generated during treatment, removal capacity, community acceptance, and willingness to pay. Social challenges associated with fluorosis and local beliefs also influence the acceptance of these technologies, and public awareness initiatives have proven effective in determining acceptance.
While Ethiopia has made significant progress in ensuring access to safe drinking water over the past two decades, challenges remain in achieving overall water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) coverage. Limited access to safe water and inadequate sanitation and hygiene practices contribute to up to 80 percent of communicable diseases, impacting health and nutrition.
The demand for water has surpassed population growth, with half of the world’s population already experiencing severe water scarcity for at least one month a year. Water scarcity is projected to worsen with the increasing global temperatures caused by climate change.
To ensure universal access to safe and affordable drinking water for all by 2030, investments in infrastructure and sanitation facilities, the protection and restoration of water-related ecosystems, and hygiene education are essential. Improving water-use efficiency is key to reducing water stress and addressing the challenges associated with water scarcity.
APIMOSO, s.r.o. a water treatment manufacturing and supply company based in the Czech Republic, is currently in negotiations with the Ethiopian government to provide water treatment mobile machines, according to the managing director.
Antonin Sestak, the General Manager of APIMOSO, mentioned that discussions have taken place with the Ethiopian Ministry of Health and water and sewerage authorities regarding the supply of water purification machines. As part of the negotiation progress, APIMOSO has partnered with WOS International Business Group PLC a local firm, to explore business opportunities in Eastern and East-central Africa.
APIMOSO is renowned for manufacturing and supplying mobile water treatment machines that could significantly enhance Ethiopia’s water distribution capacity to its citizens. The General Manager noted that due to the longstanding relations between the two countries, APIMOSO is familiar with Ethiopia’s hydrological map and has expertise in geological works. They also have knowledge about the quality of Ethiopian water.
Debebe Fekadu, the General Director of WOS International Business Group PLC, mentioned that the company is actively facilitating discussions between the Czech company and relevant stakeholders from the Ethiopian government.
Research findings have confirmed the need for serious water treatment interventions across the Rift Valley region, as a significant number of people are currently suffering from impure and fluorite-contaminated water. The use of treatment machines has become essential to address this issue.
Installing treatment machines has become cost-effective as they can provide safe and clean water from various sources such as running rivers, lakes, or seawater. In Ethiopia, high concentrations of fluorine in groundwater have resulted in significant resource losses in different parts of the country.
The General Manager expressed that productive discussions have taken place with various public and private sectors, as well as neighboring East African nations, to explore ways of providing treatment machines. APIMOSO aims to expand the provision of treatment machines across the Rift Valley countries, including Tanzania, Kenya, and Ethiopia, where the fluoride concentration in groundwater is severe.
Debebe emphasized that Ethiopia, often referred to as the water tower of East Africa, still faces significant limitations in providing safe water to households and industries. The introduction of water treatment machines can help address this challenge and improve access to clean and safe water in the country.
BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
The Ethiopian Herald November 26/2023
