The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has indicated that investigation is currently underway to determine the source or sources of the cholera outbreak.
Technical teams from various departments and municipalities are conducting water quality tests and tracking infections. While the original source has yet to be identified, it is suspected that water pollution from the Rooiwal Waste Water Treatment Works in Tshwane may be related to the outbreak.
This response follows concerns regarding drinking water quality in South Africa in light of the recent cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal and Parys.
The Temba Water Treatment Works, responsible for cleaning water abstracted from the polluted Leeukraal Dam, is unable to meet the required standards for drinking water due to the high pollution levels.
As a result, the City of Tshwane is supplying residents of Hammanskraal with drinking water through water tankers. The deteriorating state of municipal waste water treatment systems, as highlighted in the 2022 Green Drop report, contributes to the pollution of rivers and dams used as water sources.
Water boards and municipalities are obligated to conduct regular tests on treated water, ensuring it meets quality standards set by the South African Bureau of Standards.
The DWS, as the national regulator, periodically monitors drinking water quality through sample collection and analysis. If water does not meet the required standards, advisory notices are issued.
The department emphasizes the importance of avoiding consumption of untreated water from rivers, dams, and streams and advises the public to follow guidelines provided by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases for safe drinking water.
In Ngwathe Local Municipality, the department confirms that the treated water supplied to taps complies with quality requirements and is safe for human consumption. Efforts are underway to address pollution sources, such as sewerage-spilling manholes, in order to safeguard water sources. The 2023 Blue Drop Report, detailing the state of drinking water services across municipalities, will be released in July.
