While the heavy rains in Istanbul continue today, the invisible dangers posed by the disaster are growing with each passing hour. Muddy flood waters turned the streets into lakes and flooded homes and workplaces; It contains many threats, from sewage waste to chemicals, from harmful bacteria to viruses. The biggest source of concern in the megacity, where the rain continues, is the safety of tap water and the cleaning work carried out in flooded areas.
Possible leaks that may occur in the infrastructure due to excessive rainfall bring the risk of sewage or sludge mixing into the mains water. Consumption of tap water or use for food cleaning, even if its color, smell and taste appear normal; It can invite cholera, typhoid, Hepatitis A and serious gastrointestinal infections. On the other hand, while citizens whose homes are flooded try to clean the heavy mud layer left by the flood, they face the risks of infection and chemical poisoning due to unconscious cleaning and disinfection processes.
Infectious Diseases Specialist Specialist. Dr. Rabia Aslı Özer answered these critical questions that are vital to protect our health after the flood.
Is it safe to drink tap water or use it for cleaning at this stage?
Drinking water networks after the flood; It can become contaminated due to sewer leaks, damaged pipes, or malfunctions in treatment systems. Therefore, whether water is safe or not should not be evaluated only by looking at its appearance. Consuming contaminated water; It can cause gastrointestinal infections with diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain, dysentery, diseases such as typhoid and hepatitis A. The risk of cholera may also arise depending on water and sanitation conditions. Until it is declared safe by the competent authorities, safe packaged water should be preferred, especially for drinking and food preparation purposes. If authorities recommend boiling water, the water should be boiled bubbling for at least one minute, and after cooling, it should be stored in a clean and closed container. However, if there is any suspicion that the water may be contaminated with chemicals, boiling is not sufficient. In such a case, an alternative, safe water source should be used.
Just because the water is clear, odorless and has a normal taste does not mean that it does not contain disease-causing bacteria and viruses. Microbiological contamination cannot be detected with certainty by visual inspection or by simple checks at home. Therefore, if there is any doubt about the safety of water, simply avoiding drinking it is not enough. Safe water should also be used in processes such as washing vegetables and fruits, preparing raw foods, washing dishes, brushing teeth and preparing ice.
Boiling is an effective method for neutralizing many disease-causing bacteria, viruses and parasites in water. However, it does not remove heavy metals, salts and many chemical contaminants from water. As water evaporates, the density of some dissolved substances may increase. Therefore, it is not correct to say that boiled water is safe under all conditions. In cases where tap water carries a microbiological risk but there is no suspicion of chemical contamination, the boiling method recommended by the authorities can be applied.
Floodwaters are not just mud and waste; It may also contain microorganisms, animal feces and various chemicals from sewage. Waterproof boots, durable gloves and protective glasses should be used during cleaning. Open wounds should be covered with a waterproof dressing, and cuts or wounds on the skin should be prevented. After cleaning, hands should be washed thoroughly with soap and safe water. Food items that come into contact with flood water should not be consumed; Porous and dirty items that cannot be cleaned should be thrown away. It should also be checked whether the tetanus vaccine is up to date.
Cleaning with detergent is the first step in removing mud and organic dirt from surfaces. However, using only detergent on surfaces contaminated with flood water does not mean that all disease-causing microorganisms are eliminated. An appropriate disinfectant or bleach solution can be used on hard, washable surfaces, following the use and dilution instructions on the product label. If carpets, sofas, beds and similar porous items are exposed to flood water contaminated with sewage, it may not always be possible to clean them safely. Bleach should never be mixed with other cleaning products, especially products containing salt spirit or acid, and ammonia cleaners. These mixtures may cause the release of toxic gases.
It is important to keep children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems away from contaminated areas during post-flood cleanup. Structural security must be ensured before re-entering the home; Electrical and gas hazards must be eliminated, dirty water and mud must be removed, and appropriate cleaning and disinfection must be carried out. Drying of wet materials and adequate ventilation are also important.
During cleaning, natural air flow should be provided by opening opposite windows and doors, if possible. If you develop burning eyes, cough, shortness of breath or chest tightness, move to an area with fresh air and seek medical help.
