AfriForum again did its yearly blue and green drop project when it tested the water and determined its quality.
Jan du Plessis, the chairperson of AfriForum’s Secunda branch, said that in eMbalenhle, the drinking water was clean, but the sewage did not comply with the expected standards.
In the report AfriForum compiled, they said the dire state of drinking water and sewage infrastructure, together with a growing water demand, are putting increasing pressure on the supply of clean drinking water.
“The mismanagement of the country’s water resources has reached a critical point, with residents facing serious health risks and suffering because of a lack of water,” said Du Plessis.
According to AfriForum’s test results, only 86% of tests done in Mpumalanga indicated that the drinking water is safe. Five out of 35 tests showed that municipal drinking water is unsafe for human consumption.
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“This is a worse test result when compared with the previous four years when no unsafe results were recorded in Mpumalanga.”
With this project, AfriForum requests municipalities to work with them.
“Municipalities that have not met the relevant drinking and sewage water quality standards will be notified in writing and requested to submit comprehensive action plans, indicating how and when they will take steps to meet the relevant quality standards.”
AfriForum will also draw up action plans and submit them to the relevant municipal managers with the results of the water tests in the correspondence as well.
Du Plessis said AfriForum will consider legal action against the municipalities for failing to resolve the problems.
