Water Dept warns Vaal residents to avoid tap water amid cholera outbreak

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) says it has noted the reports of unconfirmed tests at the Vaal River, in Parys, which tested positive for Cholera.

“Any sewerage spillage that flows into water courses is unacceptable as it leads to pollution. The department has issued several directives to the municipalities on the upstream catchment as well as the Ngwathe to address sewer spillages into the river course,” said spokesperson Wisane Mavasa.

“In the meantime, rivers are sources of raw water and its quality is not that of drinkable standards, therefore the DWS urges members of the public to refrain from consuming untreated water sourced from rivers, dams, streams and other water bodies,” added Mavasa.

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The department’s warning comes after civil rights group AfriForum sounded the alarm that the deadly water-borne cholera bacteria had been detected in the Vaal River.

AfriForum and the Save Ngwathe organisation said water samples from the Vaal River at Parys on Tuesday tested positive for cholera.

“An accredited laboratory took water samples at different locations in this town under the supervision of a water specialist,” said AfriForum’s environmental affairs manager Lambert de Klerk.

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Public urged to stop drinking untreated water

“In a situation where there is a suspicion of water not being of good drinking standards, members of the public are urged to follow Department of Health guidelines on how to purify water before consumption,” urged Mavasa.

Outa-backed initiative, WaterCAN executive manager Dr Ferrial Adam said the Vaal River is a bulk water supplier of at least four provinces; Gauteng, North West, Free State and Mpumalanga.

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“It’s estimated that 19 million people are dependent on the Vaal, whether for residential or industrial purposes, so it has a big foot print.”

Concerns about Joburg water supply

While Adam said Joburg tap water is safe to drink, there is a huge trust deficit in the government.

“Municipalities are supposed to test the water regularly, but they are not making these tests publicly known when something is wrong and they should also be testing frequently.”

Meanwhile the department appears to have gently condemned it own negligence saying it “deems the state of wastewater services as an indicator of shortcomings at institutional and governance levels, hence we explore policy amendments which will result in more sustainable improvements.”

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