False information spread about toxins in water

The Department of Water and Sanitation released a media statement today (5 May) to assure members of the public that the glyphosate spraying at the Boskop and Potchefstroom dams will not endanger human lives and those of animals. A WhatsApp message that was spread by a member of the public, urging people not to drink the water coming from Boskop Dam.

The message reads as follows: “Very Important: As from today, during this month the Department of Water Affairs will spray the reeds at Boskop Dam. A crop-spraying plane and extremely toxic herbicide will be used. It is advisable that no tap water be consumed as drinking water. Remember boiling or your water filter will not remove the toxins.”

According to Sputnik Ratau, spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation, the spraying of the dams was conducted on Tuesday, 04 May 2021, after the Department issued a general authorisation permit to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environmental Affairs last month to conduct this activity in an effort to reduce vegetative reproduction plants in the two dams. The chemicals used to spray do not contain polyethoxylated tallow amine (POE-T), therefore animals living in water, birds and human health are safe.

“The Department would like to allay any fears that may have arisen as a result of the dam spraying and emphasise that the spraying was specifically for lowering the reeds and dam infestation. This is to maintain the dam storage capacity as more reeds take up water storage space and reduce the dam yield. Any information to the contrary is false and malicious”, says Ratau.