I have worked in settlements where families share a single water point that runs for two hours a day, and in neighborhoods where the tap water looks clear but carries bacteria that cause chronic stomach problems in children. Water quality is not always visible — and in Roma communities, it is rarely monitored by authorities. You must be your family's water inspector.
Cover every container where you store water. I have seen flies, dust, and even animal waste contaminate uncovered buckets within hours, especially in warm weather. A simple plate over the top prevents most contamination
If you are unsure about your water, boil it at a rolling boil for one full minute. This kills 99.9% of bacteria, viruses, and parasites. It costs almost nothing and it works — I have taught this in dozens of settlements where the water source was questionable
Wash your water containers with soap and clean water at least once a week. A dirty container makes clean water dirty. This is one of the most overlooked causes of recurring diarrhea that I have seen in children
Streams, ponds, and standing puddles are never safe for drinking — even if the water looks clear. Parasites invisible to the eye cause chronic damage to children's guts and development
In many Roma settlements across Central and Eastern Europe, families lack access to safe piped water. The European Roma Rights Centre has documented that Roma neighborhoods are systematically underserved by water infrastructure. Boiling water is not ideal — it is a survival strategy until your right to clean water is fulfilled.
Today, check every container where your family stores drinking water. Cover any that are open. If you cannot verify the water source is safe, begin boiling all drinking and cooking water starting tonight.