Lives risked by contaminated water
Report by independent laboratory finds that Hammanskraal water is unsafe.
David Matsena
The water that residents of Hammanskraal drink and cook with is not fit for human consumption, not even for animals.
This is according to a report released this week, by a Pretoria based independent laboratory, Aquadoc Analysts, who tested the water residents used for their day to day survival.
The test was on the recommendation of the DA Tshwane mayoral candidate, Solly Msimanga, who, after his visit to Hammanskraal a fortnight ago, asserted that the water in the area was contaminated and detrimental to life.
Samples of water were then taken by Aquadoc Analysts for testing and the results were released this week.
Msimanga said he secured the services of an independent water testing laboratory after the Tshwane metro repeatedly claimed there was nothing wrong with the water it supplied to Hammanskraal.
“Despite the tests revealing that water in the area is contaminated and not fit for human consumption, municipal officials at the regional office refused to accept the results of these tests during my visit,” Msimanga said.
“It is clear the Tshwane metro has turned its back on the people of Hammanskraal.”
According to the report, the tests revealed that the water in Ward 49 in Hammanskraal contains high levels of bacterial, including:
• Extremely high levels of coliform bacteria – which results mainly from rotting plant materials. The acceptable level is less than 10 per 100ml, the level detected in Ward 49’s water is 193;
• High levels of faecal coliform bacteria – which means traces of human or animal faeces are present – the acceptable level is 0 per 100ml, the level in Ward 49’s water is 187;
• High levels of E.coli bacteria – which means there is sewage contamination – the acceptable level is 0 per 100ml, the level in Ward 49’s water is 168.
As a result of these findings the independent water laboratory came to the following conclusion:
“The water sample from Ward 49 exceeds the SANS 241 drinking water quality guideline in terms of the total coliform, faecal coliform and E.coli counts. The water is contaminated with sewage and needs to be treated for human and animal use.”
“In October, I led a picket outside the regional municipal office and submitted a memorandum to acting regional executive director Godfrey Mnguni, which called on the metro to provide residents with a plan to deliver clean water to Hammanskraal,” Msimanga said.
The report is, however, in contrast to mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa’s response when he stated recently, that the water in Hammanskraal had been tested and met the national standard for water quality.
Msimanga said the metro’s inaction to date showed it did not care about the people of Hammanskraal. The metro is not even prepared to supply residents their most basic right – clean drinking water.
“The result of our independent test is irrefutable evidence that the ANC municipality has been lying to Hammanskraal residents about the state of their drinking water,” he said.
Msimanga appealed to Ramokgopa to come clean on this matter and ensure the municipality immediately intervened so that residents had access to safe drinking water.
“The DA will prioritise service delivery to communities. All residents should have access to clean drinking water and proper sanitation, with an access rate to clean piped water standing at 99.1%,” he said.
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