Hearings into north water quality to be held soon
“A decision has been taken to hold public hearings with the affected and interested parties.”
Public hearings into the “water problems” in Hammanskraal will be held soon, the government has announced.
Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) spokesperson Sputnik Ratau said his department recently presented the Hammanskraal potable water sampling results it jointly did with the Tshwane metro in June to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC).
He said the test to determine if the water supplied to Hammanskraal was fit for human consumption was done by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
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“Based on the results and discussions, a decision was taken to hold public hearings with affected and interested parties,” said Ratau.
The proposed dates for the hearings will be communicated in due course.
Last year Hammanskraal residents complained of poor water quality they suspected was unfit for drinking and now it would appear the department has determined the same.
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“We are not happy with the water condition,” said Ratau, advising residents to take precaution before consuming the water.
“Boil the water before drinking.”
Tshwane metro utility services MMC Abel Tau said: “We have no reason to believe that there is any anomaly, however, our latest round of testing was as a result of our commitment to demonstrate that we have and are turning the corner.”
Metro officials claimed the water in Hammanskraal was of proper colour, and safe to drink.
Today, I went to sample Hammanskraal water, EM @smokgalapa. We invited The DWS as well as the HRC to come and sample again because we have been committed to giving residents of Hammanskraal clean safe drinking water. The results should be back in 7days. pic.twitter.com/OaowOw3tEX
— Abel Tau (@AbelTau1) June 20, 2019
“We would like to assure our residents in Hammanskraal and nearby areas, that the metro will make every effort to ensure that water quality stays 100% compliant,” said Tau.
“In addition, the results of the water samples taken [on Thursday] will be made known to the residents, as we are an administration that is open, honest and responsive.”
The samples were taken from the following areas: Temba water treatment works, Kekana Primary School, Refentse clinic and Hammanskraal Secondary School.
The department said the results would be communicated “to relevant stakeholders as soon as they are available”.
#OUTA encourages @DWS_RSA to pursue its interdict to force compliance by the @CityTshwane to ensure clean drinking water to the #Hammanskraal people after OUTA raised the alarm on this. https://t.co/ywdLgpWVCm
— OUTA (@OUTASA) July 25, 2019
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