Emalahleni Local Municipality (ELM) has a significant challenge of high manganese concentration which emanate from decanting of mine water effluent from coal mining operations along the catchment.
The increased concentration is on seasonal basis mainly during raining seasons.
Manganese can cause significant discolouration of water and can pose health risks when consumed at high concentration.
Municipal water treatment process is based on conventional water purification process which is not ideal for treatment of dissolved solids, however due to on-site plant optimization, the municipality is employing oxidation method for manganese removal.
This treatment method is effective though it is not an original design of the plant and as such the plant is operated manually.
The turnaround time on optimization process is challenged such that is not instant and during the recovery period, the unaesthetically pleasing non-compliances are realized resulting in influx of public complaints.
The municipality is currently able to produce water that is below health risk at a treatment efficiency of more than 80%.
The municipality is expediting fixing of mechanical and electrical defects to improve plant efficiency to handle the high concentration of manganese.
The municipality is further improving plant efficiency in treating manganese by replacing existing sand media with modified media that can improve efficiency of manganese removal and further reduce risk of non-compliance during optimization processes.
The municipality has further reduced maintenance related risks by appointing maintenance service providers whom will have a team that will be stationed at the plant to improve maintenance and breakdown challenges.
The municipality also has an internal and external accredited water laboratories who conduct continuous water quality monitoring to advice immediately on the course of action for any failures.
The public is advised to take note and be cautioned that manganese contaminated water can cause stains due to discoloration.
It must however be affirmed that the plant is currently producing water that is below health risk and the teams are on high alert for any eventuality.
The communities and consumers are urged to be vigilant and report any visible possible water quality failures to the municipality for urgent attention and corrective measures.
