THE POINTS SHOULD BE REGARDED DURING THE UTILITY WATER CUTOFF – MINISTRY OF HEALTH WARNINGS!
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* The water tanks used in houses and buildings and that have not been periodically cleaned should be immediately cleaned. The cleaning process should then be repeated in specific periods (at times of water cuts, every three months, or every six months) to ensure their hygiene.
* Water should not be kept still but continuously used even when stored for water cut times.
* Water obtained from sources other than usual water supply should not be used for drinking purposes.
* One should refrain from storing excessive quantity of water. The water stored should be kept in clean and closed bins in a cool place which is not exposed to sun. When the cutoff is over, first the stored water should be consumed. The bins with taps and large caps should be chosen, and their cleanness should always be checked.
* During the water cutoff, one must make sure all taps are turned off, as well as the main valves
* The water released following the water cut should be left running for 3-5 minutes until it becomes clear in color. In order to avoid waste, the unclear water should be used in cleaning places such as toilets etc.
* If the network water will be used as drinking water during the water cut, the water should be boiled before use for 1-2 minutes and then cooled.
* The fruits and vegetables that are consumed crude should be kept in a liter of water - which includes 20-30 driblets 1% chlorinated solution -for 30 minutes after they are washed. (1% chlorinated solution can easily be prepared by putting 9 glasses normal water to 1 glass bleacher. The bleacher must include 10% chlorine ‘sodium hypochlorite’ but not include any additive. Medical institutions should be contacted for further advice).
* If water bottled in plastic, glass bottle or carboy will be used, make sure they are licensed by Ministry of Health.
* The carboy pumps should be kept in 1% chlorinated water for 30 minutes once every 15 days and 1% chlorinated solution should be circulated inside the pump.
* Precautions should be taken to avoid accidents such as baby and children drowning in the water stored in the house.
* One must pay attention to personal hygiene, especially to hand hygiene.
* Complaints about the fake – unlicensed - bottled waters should be forwarded to Health Directorships and to the telephone line 184 of Ministry of Health.
* Points regarding water-cutoffs, breakdowns, open water-sale, water tanks should be forwarded to the relevant units of municipality.
* In possible diarrhea incidents, one must contact the nearest medical establishment.
* It must be avoided to use and consume the cubes of ice that have no known source.
With recent drought and related drain of drinking/utility water public is made aware that water cutoffs in specific locations are on the way. Because of this fact, it is foreseen that the bottled water consumption can increase and the points that should be regarded about these products are listed below;
* Water produced or imported for sale should be licensed by the Ministry of Health.
* The label – that should be on product -must be undamaged and legible.
* The brand, type of water, date and serial number of production or export permission, the address of the filling place, and the analysis values of water should be written on the label.
* There must not be any symbols on bins, caps and labels that may mislead the consumer (such as “it heals”, etc.).
* The caps should be originally closed and not be opened before (including the places such as buses, restaurants etc.). The name of the brand should be written on the cap. In addition, production and expiry dates as well as bulk and serial numbers should be written on the bottle.
* The water that has the permission of production or import from the Ministry may be kept in bottles, cups, polycarbonate carboys or in carry-bags.
* On the polycarbonate carboys that people mostly use, there should be a waterproof and airproof safety seal that must enclose the bottle and cap. On the seal the brand name and the type of the water should be written.
* On the recyclable polycarbonate carboys the brand name and/or company name and/or registered emblem and/or the logo should be written embossed to an image.
* The recyclable polycarbonate carboys should not be used for filling bottles of different brands.
* For bottled waters the information on the cap, safety seal, label; on the polycarbonate carboys the information such as the name of brand and/or company name and/or registered emblem or the logo should be compatible with each other.
* The water should be colorless, odorless and clear. In the water there should not be any objects such as sediments, mosses etc.
* The bottled waters should be transported in clear and hygienic places, should not be carried together with chemicals such as gas cylinder, auto-gas, petroleum products, etc.
* It is forbidden to sell water in open in any way (water station, tanker, etc.).
* The water bottles should not be cracked, broken, crushed etc.; they should be kept in cool, dry and clean places with their caps on.
* The caps of the bottled waters should be kept on until the water is consumed.
* The apparatus used with polycarbonate carboys such as pumps, refrigerators etc. should be cleaned in certain periods of time.
* The specifics of the natural mineral waters (with rich minerals, with minerals, with low minerals, with bicarbonate, sulfate, calcium, magnesium, anchor, sodium etc.) should be clearly written on the labels.
* If the natural mineral water include more than 1.5 mg/L fluoride, there should be an ‘it is not compatible to the children between 0-7 ages’ writing on the label.
* The natural mineral water include more than 200mg/L sodium should be consumed by the hypertension patients under medical control.
* Gaseous natural mineral waters should be kept in cool places and should not be left in warm and sunny places.
* During the transfer of gaseous natural mineral waters or before their consumption, it should be avoided to churn or bump them.
* Any suspicious situation should be brought to the attention of to nearest medical establishment. Also one can call Ministry of Health Communication Center, Alo 184 and 0-312-5851360-61. You may also get in touch with Ministry of Health, Basic Medical Services Head Office, Environmental Health Department Head, and Water Security Branch Management.
