Watch: Metro assures journalists supplied water is safe to consume

The tour was insightful and enlightening, allowing the media to learn more about the water purification process and to witness the hard work and detailed processes of purifying water.

September 21, 2018

Sunel Gilliland 2 minutes read

After screening the impurities fall into a skip.

Caxton journalists had the opportunity to visit a national key point, Zuikerboch Pumping Station, in Vereeniging on September 14.

The City of Ekurhuleni invited the journalists to a Rand Water media tour for an opportunity to learn about the water purification cycle and the processes water goes through before it gets to residents’ taps.

This forms part of the metro’s assurance that the water provided to residents are safe to consume.

“The need for the tour, among others, was the interest Caxton newspapers have shown in the quality of the water reticulated by the city.

“In this regard, it would be of great benefit for journalists to have a common understanding of factors that may or may not affect water quality during the purification process,” said Themba Gadebe, metro spokesperson.

These processes include:

Screening

When raw water arrives at a purification station it passes through metal screens. Screens trap large living organisms and other particles like sticks and leaves and allow water to pass through.

Sedimentation

Flock settles at the bottom of the tank. Flock is referred to as sludge and is pumped out by desludging bridges. The clean water at the top of the tank flows over the launders into the carbonation bay.

Carbonation

The use of lime as a coagulant raises the PH of the water to about 10.5 which is conductive and scale forming. After the sedimentation process, water flows into carbonation bays where it is stabilised by adding pure CO2 to control PH.

Filtration

The water now passes into the filter houses where it flows through rapid gravity sand filter beds.

Pumping

The water is ready to drink and is pumped to the different distribution networks: Eikenhof, Zwartkopjes, Palmiet and Mapleton.

Smuts Marais, water quality manager at Ekurhuleni, said although there are complaints about worms or impurities in the water, when investigated it is found these impurities come from homeowners’ own plumbing system.

“Filters are therefore not cleaned or replaced regularly and pipes rust and are not maintained properly,” said Marais.

Rand Water also encourages the community to use water wisely.