The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) said the cloudy or white coloured water coming from the taps in the Edenglen area as safe to drink.
This came after resident Ms Lizelle Lombaard was alarmed last week when the water dispersing from the tap contained a chemical smell and seemed to be discoloured.
She said the water smelt, and tasted, of chemicals.
“It smelt like turpentine to me, but my fiancé said it smelt like thinners,” said Ms Lombaard.
She said that as a result, they bought water to drink.
The EMM’s spokesperson, Mr Themba Gadebe, said no complaints were received and none of the potable water samples were found to have any chemical smell.
He said the EMM’s water quality section were unaware of any complaints regarding potable water issues in the Edenglen area.
“All our sampling points done at various intervals during the month throughout Edenvale, and for the southern areas of Ekurhuleni, comply with the SANS 241 potable water standard,” said Mr Gadebe.
Ms Lombaard said her concern is whether the water would remain in that condition permanently, or whether it is a temporary problem.
Mr Gadebe said this might occur from time to time, whenever the network was without water due to a pipe burst or repairs being done.
“When the network is reinstated, air pockets in the network are compressed into small bubbles. They then present as a cloudy or white coloured water coming from the tap. Ekurhuleni does not treat the water with any chemicals. All treatment is done by Rand Water and the EMM only distributes quality, sterile-tested water to the community. The water quality section will investigate any potable water quality complaints received from members of the public, free of charge,” said Mr Gadebe.
