This is what bathwater in eMalahleni looks like.
Emalahleni local municipality officials have been ordered to work around the clock to remedy the unusual colour of water which has understandably caused panic and frustration among residents.
Municipal manager Sizwe Mayisela has raised concerns about the lack of information to the public related to the discolouring of water, he told Witbank News.
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“For more than three weeks, residents have been getting brownish water and they have legitimate questions and concerns which must be [answered],” Mayisela said.
“Residents want to know what we are doing to correct that situation, some are even wondering whether it is safe to drink that water or not.”
According to the municipal technical directorate, the discolouring of water in Emalahleni is caused by the high concentration of manganese, which is linked to coal mining activities.
The municipality has a conventional water purification plant which is not designed for treatment of dissolved solids.
Currently, the municipality is using oxidation as a form of manganese removal. This system is efficient, however temporal plant modifications are conducted to improve efficiency. The process is labour intensive and prone to frequent system failure and high operational water loss.
The municipality is currently executing a project funded by the department of water and sanitation (DWS) which will modify the plant operation and improve the efficiency of manganese removal.
A program of cleaning reservoirs is underway to eliminate the risk of contamination in the reservoirs due to the long-term deposition of sediments.
The public must take note and be cautioned that manganese-contaminated water can cause stains due to discolouration.
It must, however, be affirmed that the plant is currently producing water that is below health risk.
Inconsistent water supply was also a big concern for Mayisela.
“As a municipality, we will never relax until residents receive water regularly, we must find a solution soon. Water is a basic right and residents shouldn’t be expected, even for a single day, to go without water,” he reasoned.
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