Almost 50% of SA’s municipal water systems ‘unsafe’
The water crisis in South Africa marked by unreliable municipal water supplies, has necessitated that ordinary citizens search for alternative sources of water when tap water is unsafe or unavailable. Here are some tips from the South African National Bottled Water Association (SANBWA).
South Africa’s water crisis is a multifaceted issue, exacerbated by changing weather patterns, deteriorating water purification systems and infrastructure, and the increasing cost of finding alternative solutions, said the South African National Bottled Water Association (SANBWA).
According to the CEO of SANBWA, Charlotte Metcalf, a recent report by Blue Drop highlighted the severe challenges in maintaining water quality and availability.
He said this report indicated that almost 50% of SA’s municipal water systems are not treated to safe drinking water standards.
“Non-revenue water is at 41% due to leaks and insufficient infrastructure maintenance. Furthermore, 64% of our wastewater works are at risk of releasing untreated sewerage into our rivers. It is also reported that seven billion litres of wastewater land in rivers daily. The current water crisis in South Africa, marked by unreliable municipal water supplies, has necessitated that ordinary citizens search for alternative sources of water when tap water is unsafe or unavailable.”
Metcalf added this has led to a proliferation of refilling stations, kiosks and on-demand filling services in retailers, hotels and restaurants, offering drinking water as packaged water.
He said it is thus crucial to educate consumers about these risks and ensure regular checks to prevent potential health hazards.
TIPS FOR CONSUMERS:
If your water supply is unsafe, Metcalf suggested the following:
1. Only buy bottled water with the SANBWA logo on the label to ensure quality and safety.
“South Africans’ distrust of municipal water quality has attracted many new entrants into the bottled market but not all comply with the strict legislation that regulates all enterprises packaging water for sale to the public. Fly-by-night operators think nothing of bottling waters from unsuitable sources under unsanitary conditions and into packaging that might not even be sterile.”
2. Don’t fill bottles from home filtration systems, tanks or re-filling stations and store them for long periods because these waters do not have a guaranteed shelf-life.
3. Don’t buy pre-filled bottles from re-fill facilities
“Shoppers must insist that the bottles are filled in front of them into the containers they bring with them and not simply swap their empty container for a full one. These facilities seldom adhere to packaged water legislation and therefore are not legally allowed to market and sell their pre-filled waters as bottled water.”
4. Avoid water offered in ready-filled bottles by restaurants
“Unless the filters (or the membranes if using reverse osmosis technology to filter the water) used in restaurant countertop systems are fit for purpose, inspected, maintained and changed regularly, they will contaminate the water they dispense with unhealthy bacteria and fungi and not remove critical contamination. In addition, the hoses through which the water runs, the containers that are filled and the lids that seal these containers are hotbeds for bacterial growth if they are not cleaned and sanitised thoroughly. Insist on being served water in a glass or jug or bottled water carrying the SANBWA logo.”
5. Test and treat boreholes, tanks and other environmental sources of water regularly to ensure it is safe for consumption.
6. Double-check the claims made by manufacturers of home filtration systems as most of these are designed to improve the taste, not to remove high-risk contaminants. These also need potable water at the inlet and cannot handle heavily contaminated water.
