Sending water to the Cape? First read this

Many Benonians and Benoni-based NPOs are sending or planning to send water to the Western Cape.

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The City Times spoke to Dr Willem van Wyk, a senior researcher at the University of Stellenbosch’s Water Institute, to find out how water must be stored to be usable when transported.

Van Wyk said the storage and transport of water is a complex matter.

“It depends on what your water comes into contact with; water that is drinkable doesn’t go bad soon,” he said.

He explained that it depends on the cleanliness of the container.

De Klerk said it is a good idea to boil water before bottling and said the bottle must be filled over the capacity before capping it.

“This leaves less room for oxygen in the bottle,” he said.

He also explained that even though the water left in dams in the Western Cape is still drinkable, if dams are reduced to less than 14 per cent, the sludge could severely damage water pipes.

“If the sludge reaches water pipes, there is no way of cleaning it, the pipes will have to be replaced,” he said, indicating this will have massive financial implications.

He said the primary destination of water sent to the Western Cape will be hospitals, old age homes, and child welfare institutions.

“Tygerberg Hospital is a part of [the University of Stellenbosch] and the university’s swimming pool is now a drop-off point for water for the hospital,” he said.

De Klerk also warned that all those wanting to donate must get permission from the Department of Water and Sanitation.

He said sending water to the Western Cape without permission is against the law.

He did, however, say the law can be overridden should someone’s Constitutional right to water be infringed.

He explained, for example, “if your neighbour has a borehole and you don’t have access to water, you will legally have the right to access that water”.

De Klerk said the situation hasn’t reached that point yet and people must rather adhere to the law.

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