Pampoen Spruit in Sonneglans has E. coli and faecal coliform
Outa and WaterCAN conduct tests of their tap water in Boskruin.
Scientists have found the drinking water in Randburg to be of adequate quality, but the river water not so much.
In fact, the Pampoen Spruit in Sonneglans has E. coli and faecal coliform. These can cause many severe bacterial infections.
WaterCAN, a subsidiary of the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa), held an extensive research project for Water Testing Week in September.
During this, the quality of water from dams, rivers and taps were tested across the country. The organisation had provided testing kits to 100 scientists and activists for this.
At the launch of the project, Outa CEO Wayne Duvenage joined water scientists Dr Ferrial Adam and Ayesha Laher, and Wits environmental studies professor Dr Paul Goldschagg to test the water at Pampoen Spruit and the tap water at Outa’s offices in Boskruin.
The testing was comprehensive, with a number of chemicals and bacteria tested, and the results for some requiring three days to process.
“I am still working on the data [from all the results nationwide] but the immediate picture is that tap water that was tested in Western Cape, Gauteng, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal all seem to be fine – both in terms of chemical and bacterial parameters,” Adam said.
“This is of course good news but we will need to continue monitoring given the challenges that we envisage regarding load-shedding and how it will affect water treatment plants.”
She said the majority of raw water tested at rivers, streams and dams, showed evidence of E. coli and faecal coliform.
“In the Eastern Cape for example, the dam that was tested is a source of water for the communities that live close by and the group that tested will be issuing a statement and also appealing to people to not drink the water.”
She added that the results were not surprising given the Green Drop and Blue Drop reports in April.
“On the other hand, I think the picture of healthy water means that we really have our work cut out for us. There is a need to raise a huge red flag on the levels of pollution in our rivers. There needs to be urgent action to protect our water resources, and I don’t think enough is being done.”
This is because although access to clean, safe drinking water is a human right, less than half of all South Africans have a tap in their homes and many drink water from rivers.
Even in the midst of the team testing water at Pampoen Spuit, a man stopped next to them to collect water for drinking, despite the team’s protests.
“Many people do not have access to tap water so improving the quality of our river water can save lives,” Laher said.
“The chemicals in our rivers can lead to major health issues after a while.”
More information about the test and its results can be found on www.watercan.org.za
