Question NW1998 to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Reply:

The information was provided by the Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

(1) The Water Quality subsection within the Water and Sanitation department samples predefined monitoring points within storm water channels, spruits, rivers, storm water retention ponds, pan and dams throughout the City of Ekurhuleni on a monthly basis. The purpose of this monitoring is to identify any pollution emanating from sewer blockage or illegal industrial effluent discharges.  The water samples are evaluated against the Instream Water Quality Standards of the River Forums in terms of the CMA’s monitoring of the water bodies as directed in the National Water Act.

If any of the samples test results exceeds the allowable limits, the potential type or source of pollutant is investigated to try and find the source. This information is then communicated to the relevant department to investigate, resolve and take appropriate action.

It must be noted that sometimes there are challenges with regards to sampling or monitoring points due to accessibility and/or unsuitable samples as a result of sample points being dry or stagnant water. However, the City of Ekurhuleni will at all times obtain samples under normal circumstances.

Statistics

Number of monitoring points.

	North East region	South West region
Monitoring points	141	110
Number of Lakes, Dams and storm water retention ponds and ponds	20	10
Number of rivers and spruits	3	3

 

Analysis done over the period January 2014 to April 2018.

Actual samples	9869
Actual analysis	138836

 

Rivers and spruits in the boundaries of the City of Ekurhuleni:

• Small portion of the Jukskei river
• Blesbokspruit
• Kaalspruit
• Swartspruit
• Elsburg spruit
• Natalspruit
• Small upper portion of Rietspruit