Kempton’s water is of the cleanest – AfriForum
The monitoring of drinking water in communities forms part of AfriForum’s #skoonwater initiative
TAP water in Kempton Park is safe to drink, according to the civil rights organisation AfriForum.
AfriForum again tested the quality of drinking water (blue drop) and sewage (green drop) in towns in Gauteng South.
Kempton’s sewage fell within the set microbiological standards in 2014 and 2015 but was not tested this year.
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“The monitoring of drinking water in communities forms part of AfriForum’s #skoonwater initiative. We want to continuously ensure that South Africans’ constitutional right to access to clear, running water is protected,” said Wico Swanepoel, AfriForum’s provincial coordinator for Gauteng South.
The results indicate that 12 towns’ water is fit for human consumption and that continuously good water management is applied. These towns Alberton, Benoni, Heidelberg, Kempton Park, Lochvaal, Nigel, Randburg, Springs, Vanderbijlpark, Vanderbijlpark West, Vereeniging and Westonaria.
AfriForum also tested the sewage quality in six towns. It was found that the sewage of only two towns, Vanderbijlpark and Vereeniging, falls within the set microbiological standards.
Four towns therefore did not adhere to the regulations:
• Alberton releases more than 3 900 E. coli per 100 ml water in natural water resources.
• Nigel releases high concentrations of faecal coliforms in natural water resources.
• Springs releases more than 2 000 E. coli per 100 ml water in natural water resources.
• Westonaria releases more than 2 500 E. coli per 100 ml water in natural water resources.
According to Swanepoel, AfriForum will take the necessary steps to put into place remedies in towns that do not adhere to the standards, as the 2016 green drop report indicates that there is a decrease in water quality management.
“It is important that drinking water and sewage quality is tested continuously. We have to protect this life-essential resource and ensure that the Bloemhof events of 2014 never happen again,” Swanepoel added.
