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The government of Sao Tome is extremely concerned about the shortage of drinking water distributed among the population. The official responsible for this sector was summoned by the head of the executive branch to develop strategies to resolve this issue.

Nilton Lima, Director of the Water Sector at Emmae company, stated that 'the prime minister/government is extremely concerned about the current water situation in the country' after a meeting that took place without the presence of press representatives.

According to Nilton Lima, the goal of this meeting was to allow the prime minister to hear from technical specialists, develop a strategy, and find the quickest way to solve the water problem that has existed in the country for several months.

Lima specified that Emmae uses two water sources for its reservoirs: rivers and springs. However, recently all regions supplied through springs have faced shortages because 'the springs have sharply reduced their flow.'

The lack of water has negatively affected various communities and public services on the archipelago, including schools and hospitals. At the beginning of this week, patients at Sao Tome's only hospital complained about the situation, noting an exacerbation of hygiene problems in medical facilities.

The patients' appeals prompted solidarity actions from citizens, who began offering bottles of water, as well as from the fire department, which provided water for the hospital warehouse.

The Johannesburg Water utility warned residents of the Bezvidenhaut Valley against consuming or using tap water due to potential contamination. This restriction will remain in effect until laboratory tests confirm the safety of the water.

The warning followed the completion of repair work on a damaged water pipeline at the intersection of 6th Street and 8th Avenue, which was carried out on Wednesday. Johannesburg Water reported that the damage occurred when a tree stump fell onto the pipe during excavation work by a contractor replacing a sewage pipe.

The affected areas are located along 8th Avenue at intersections with 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Streets. On Thursday, crews continued flushing the pipeline and collecting water samples for laboratory analysis.

The company stated that 'water supply will remain isolated until laboratory test results confirm that the water is safe for use.' Residents were advised to refrain from drinking or using the water for any other purposes until official notification from Johannesburg Water regarding its safety.

While the restriction is in place, alternative water sources continue to be provided. The company specified that it will notify affected customers as soon as laboratory results confirm that the water quality meets established standards, allowing normal supply to safely resume.

This warning came a week after at least 408 cases of gastrointestinal illnesses were recorded in Tshwane as a result of the water contamination crisis in Bronkhorstspruit.