Eye infections in luxury condo linked to dirty water

The managers of a luxury condominium in Bangkok are in hot water after tap water resulted in eye infections in as many as 200 residents.

The problem began nearly four weeks ago and still has not been fully resolved, with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) vowing to take legal action if it isn’t fixed soon.

Health officials from Chatuchak district first learned of the problem on June 14, when reports emerged that 90 residents of the condominium had experienced eye inflammation

The name of the condominium in the Lat Phrao area was not given but it was reported that units there can cost 10 million baht.

Tests found no residual free chlorine in the water tanks of the condominium building. That was substandard for tap water.

Officials also banned the use of its swimming pool.

On June 25, a test found a parasite that causes eye infections in tap water from underground tanks and five condominiums. 

On June 26, BMA health officials were told that the number of eye inflammation cases in the building had reached 200.

Officials would revisit the building on Thursday. Management will face legal action from the BMA if it fails to keep water quality up to safety standards.

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Vocabulary

  • hot water (idiom): to be in a dangerous or difficult situation -
  • infection: a disease or medical condition that is caused by a bacteria or by a virus or a parasite - การติดเชื้อ
  • inflammation: a red, painful and often swollen area in or on a part of your body - การอักเสบ
  • officials: people who have the power to make decisions or enforce the law - เจ้าหน้าที่ผู้มีอำนาจ
  • parasite: a plant or animal that lives in or on another type of animal and feeds on it - ปรสิต, พยาธิ, พืชหรือสัตว์ที่อาศัยสิ่งมีชีวิตอื่น
  • resolve (verb): to solve a problem - แก้ปัญหา
  • standard: a (high) level of quality - มาตรฐาน
  • substandard: not as good as you would normally expect, or not good enough to be accepted - ต่ำกว่ามาตราฐาน

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