Question NW2481 to the Minister of Water and Sanitation
04 August 2023 - NW2481
Smalle, Mr JF to ask the Minister of Water and Sanitation
(1) What steps has his department taken to intervene to improve the quality of drinking water in the Musina Local Municipality, Limpopo, following the direct pumping of water from the river to residences due to load shedding (2)(a) at what intervals is the water tested and (b) what are the relevant details of the contaminants that were found to include high quantities of pollutants?
Reply:
A water quality monitoring programme is being implemented by the Musina Local Municipality in relation to the compliance to South Africa National Standard 241(SANS 241) following the visit by the Minister of the Department of Water and Sanitation to Musina in 2022. The following measures were implemented to improve the drinking water quality:
- Cleaning of reservoirs
- Chlorination/disinfection of water before distribution
- Monitoring programme of water quality was initiated from 26 May 2022 at seven monitoring points including Oorplaas, Musina Municipal Main Office, Musina Intermodal Terminal Ext 9, Venetia Guesthouse, Musina Hospital, Gateway Ext 8, and Beitbrige.
The outcome of the water quality compliance monitoring indicated the following:
- Microbiological - three sampling points complied (Oorplaas, Musina Intermodal Terminal Ext 9 and Beitbridge)
- Chemical - all sampling points complied
- Physical - six sampling points complied (Oorplaas, Musina Municipal Main Office, Musina Intermodal Terminal Ext 9, Venetia Guesthouse, Messina Hospital, and Gateway extension 8)
Recommendations to correct the failing sampling points were made to the municipality by the Department of Water and Sanitation. A follow up was done on 29 June 2022 to check progress made at the Musina Intermodal Terminal, Gateway Primary School, Bergview Reservoir, Messina Municipality, Messina Borehole, Messina Hospital, Messina Borehole, Venetia Guest House, Oorplas, Oorplas Inlet, Beitbridge PS. The outcome of the water quality compliance indicated the following:
- Microbiological- seven sampling points complied (Gateway Primary School, Bergview Reservoir, Messina Municipality, Messina Borehole, Messina Hospital, Messina Borehole, Oorplas, Beitbridge PS)
- Chemical- All sampling points complied
- Physical – All sampling points complied
As indicated above, water quality results indicate that there has been improvement on the microbiological compliance as a result of the remedial actions implemented by the municipality.
(2) (a) The municipality continues to monitor water quality on a monthly basis on Conductivity, Chloride, E.coli, Fluoride, Free Chlorine, Iron, Manganese, pH, Sulfate, Total Coliforms, Total Dissolve Solids and Turbidity since the establishment of the monitoring programme.
(2) (b) Tests conducted during May 2023 found that free chlorine was lower than the range of 0,2mg/l and 0,5mg/l. This non-compliance does not pose any health risk since the municipality is compliant with regard to microbiological compliance.
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