Minister: Olifantspoort water quality is above board
The Minister of Water, Senzo Mchunu along with other delegates yesterday visited the Olifantspoort Water Project site that is set to hold close to 180 megalitres for distribution.
POLOKWANE – Despite inadequacies in the supply of water to consumers in Limpopo, the Olifantspoort Water Treatment Plant’s recent blue drop assessment shows that the quality of water is “more than satisfactory”.
This, according to Water Minister Senzo Mchunu, means there is little concern over contamination.
Mchunu, his two deputy ministers and the mayors of Polokwane and the Capricorn District Municipality assessed the state of water and waste water systems at the Olifantspoort plant on Thursday.
Departmental delegates also assessed similar infrastructure in the Vhembe, Sekhukhune and Waterberg districts.
In recent months, concerns over the general water quality in South Africa have grown following a cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal in February.
Read more: Health Dept confirms Limpopo’s first cholera case
“I was told that recent assessments of the chemical and micro contents at the Olifantspoort plant were above what we regard as acceptable, and that nothing negative was found,” Mchunu told the media during a briefing at Bolivia Lodge in Polokwane.
He mentioned that water quality in other parts of the country, however, remains a challenge, and acknowledged that the primary concern in Limpopo is more in terms of access to water, rather than quality, given the rapid population growth especially towards Polokwane.
You might also want to read: No need to panic over cholera outbreak – Polokwane Municipality
The delegation also visited the much-anticipated Olifantspoort Water Project site where according to Mchunu, infrastructure capacity will be able to hold for distribution close to 180 megalitres.
“We will return to the site in two weeks with a final plan on the estimated time frames of completion as well as the budget,” he added.
