WATER: CoE water is safe for consumption
“If municipal water is stored in containers is it vital to ensure that it is clean and covered to prevent contamination.”
Amid the Bronkhorstspruit water crisis, which has led to 400 people contracting gastrointestinal illness after unchlorinated water entered the water network, the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) has reiterated that the municipality’s water supply meets required national water quality standards.
“Our water is safe for human consumption and usage,” said CoE spokesperson, Zweli Dlamini.
“According to the city’s August 2026 Drinking Water Quality Report, the municipality achieved 100% compliance in acute health microbiological, acute health chemical and chronic health chemical parameters, demonstrating its commitment to providing residents with safe drinking water.”
The report confirmed that all 419 microbiological analyses conducted during the month complied with the South African National Standard for Drinking Water (SANS 241).
No E.coli non-compliances were recorded during the reporting period.
The overall drinking water quality performance was as follows:
• Acute Health Microbiological Compliance, 100%
• Acute Health Chemical Compliance, 100%
• Chronic Health Chemical Compliance, 100%
• Operational Compliance, 99.53%
• Aesthetic Compliance, 99.86%
• Residual Disinfectant Compliance: 98.82%
“The results demonstrate that the city’s drinking water quality performance exceeded the prescribed compliance thresholds across all six monitored categories,” explained Dlamini.
“While the results are encouraging, the city acknowledges that maintaining drinking water quality requires continuous monitoring, preventative maintenance and effective management of its infrastructure.”
He continued, saying routine water quality testing, maintenance, monitoring of disinfectant levels, and corrective measures, where necessary, are ongoing.
“Maintaining water quality during periods of high demand, particularly as temperatures rise and water consumption increases, is of the utmost importance; however, we urge members of the community to use water sparingly and report leaks and burst pipes.
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