Cholera outbreak: City of Ekurhuleni tap water is safe

In a media statement received this afternoon, the City of Ekurhuleni assures its residents that the tap water supplied by the City is of excellent quality and safe for human consumption.

This comes after the current outbreak of cholera in the Tshwane area, and concerns raised among the
public regarding the safety of the drinking water supplied by the City of Ekurhuleni, said metro spokesperson Zweli Dlamini.

“Continuous sampling and analysis of the tap water is conducted at various sampling points within the City’s water network by Water Quality Section of the City itself, to confirm compliance to the South African National Standard for Drinking Water SANS 241,” he said.

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Dlamini explained that water quality needs to comply with the microbiological, physical, aesthetic, operational and chemical determinants. The quality and drinkability of water is measured against a national standard, known as the South African National Standard for Drinking Water (SANS 241-1:2015 Edition 2 and SANS 241-2:2015 Edition2) which requires that the following parameters be measured:

Acute Health: Determinant that poses an immediate unacceptable health risk if present at
concentration values exceeding the numerical limits as specified in SANS 241.

Aesthetic: Determinant that taint water with respect to taste, odour or colour and that does not
pose an unacceptable heath risk if present at concentration values exceeding the numerical limits
as specified in SANS 241.

Chronic Health: Determinant that poses an unacceptable heath risk if ingested over an extended
period if present at concentration values exceeding the numerical limits as specified in SANS 241.

Microbiological Health Compliance: Microbial water quality is the state of the water with respect
to the absence (good water quality) or presence (poor water quality) of certain disease causing
micro-organisms.

Operational: Determinant that is essential for assessing the efficient operation of treatment
systems and risks to infrastructure.

“Based on the above, the City of Ekurhuleni can confirm that its water quality complies with the SANS 241 requirements accordingly.

“Potable water quality monitoring results are published on the City’s website on a monthly basis and are easily accessible to the public,” Dlamini concluded.

Should there still be concerns or further enquiries, contact the Water Quality Managers of the City: 

South/West Region:
Smuts Marais
Tel: 011 999 2630
Email: Smuts.marais@ekurhuleni.gov.za

North/East Region:
Annamarie Maurizi
011 999 8736
Email: Annamarie.maurizi@ekurhuleni.gov.za

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