CHEMICALS from the mines in the Vaalbank area are believed to be contaminating Hlobane’s water supply.
Residents in that area first suspected that their water was ‘polluted’ when they discovered that the water had a foul smell. They also began to notice that clothes being washed in the water came out stained a hideous shade of brown. Furthermore, bath tubs, basins and shower floors have been stained by the chemicals in the water.
“At first, I thought that maybe the filters in the washing machine may be dirty, so I took them out and cleaned them thoroughly, but the problem persisted. This used to be a white towel,” said one of the residents, holding up a towel mottled in different shades of brown from caramel to mocha and everything in between. In his arms, he had several items of clothing that had suffered the same fate.
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He continued, “I went around to my neighbours and they confirmed that they had the same problem. I told them that I suspected that the water was contaminated. For a long time, I have been buying my drinking water in town because I didn’t trust the quality of the drinking water. Now, I have to buy extra water for cleaning. Are they waiting for someone to die before they take action? Who will take responsibility for the damage to our clothing and our wash basins?”
Laboratory testing has revealed high levels of manganese and sulphur in the water.
According to freedrinkingwater.com, manganese is a mineral that naturally occurs in rocks and soil and may also be present due to underground pollution sources. Chemically, it can be considered a close relative of iron, since it occurs in much the same forms as iron. When manganese is present in water, it is every bit as annoying as iron, perhaps even more so. In low concentrations, it produces extremely objectionable stains on everything with which it comes in contact. Deposits collect in pipelines, and tap water may contain black sediment and turbidity due to precipitated manganese. When fabrics are washed in manganese-bearing water, dark brown or black stains are left behind due to the oxidation of the manganese. High exposure to manganese has been associated with toxicity to the nervous system, producing a syndrome that resembles Parkinson’s.
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Livestrong.com advises that the biggest problem of sulphur in drinking water is that it stinks. Like other minerals, sulphur can leave stains in plumbing fixtures such as sinks and toilets. Clothing washed in water that is high in sulphur may also become stained. Large quantities of sulphur in drinking water can contribute to diarrhoea, which leads to dehydration.
Since the problem was detected, the municipality has increased the dosage of lime, chlorine and flocculant in the purification process to attempt to counteract the effects of the manganese and the sulphur. While this is all the budget allows for, municipal officials fear that these remedial measures may not be enough. At the time of print, no further testing was done on the water to determine if the increased dosage was sufficient to treat the chemicals in the water. The mines were not approached to determine which one may be responsible for the chemicals seeping into the water supply.
The Vryheid Herald made numerous phone calls to the Department of Water Affairs in an attempt to discuss the issue, but to no avail.
Head of AbaQulusi’s Technical Services Department, PJ Ndlovu, said that, despite the distaste and the discolouration, tests show that the water is safe to drink.
“The chemicals are within the limits of what is considered safe. So far, we haven’t had any complaints about side-effects from drinking the water. The water is safe for consumption,” he concluded.
