Hammanskraal water declared safe for consumption after concerns

After a short period of uncertainty regarding the quality of drinking water in Hammanskaal, the Tshwane Metro and Magalies Water have confirmed that the water is safe for residents to consume.

The questions over water quality began arising in February, however recent tests have nullified the concerns.

This comes after a recent water supply interruption causing temporary turbidity in the drinking water forced an urgent meeting between the deputy minister of Water and Sanitation, the mayor of Tshwane, and Magalies Water officials.

Spokesperson for Magalies Water David Magae explained the water supply in Hammanskraal complied with the SANS 241:2015 drinking water quality standard, except for a brief period when turbidity levels were elevated.

Magae said the turbidity was caused by settled sediments in the systems after the water supply had been interrupted.

He said all other water quality parameters were met, and extensive testing was carried out to ensure the safety of the water.

Magalies Water, which operates the Klipdrift Water Treatment Works, reported that a power failure on February 4 caused by a severe storm had affected the mini-substation that supplies it with electricity.

“The storm damage required the installation of a new substation, which was completed on February 8.

“Once power was restored, the treatment plant resumed normal operations, and the water quality was closely monitored.”

Magae said subsequent tests on February 13 showed the water met all safety standards and was safe for consumption.

The Hammanskraal community has faced challenges with its water supply for over two decades.

Despite the Temba Water Treatment Plant’s capacity to treat 120 megalitres of water per day, the plant has struggled due to the dysfunctionality of the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Works.

The Department of Water and Sanitation has appointed Magalies Water to construct a 50-megalitre plant, with Phase 1 completed and operational since November last year.

Minister Pemmy Majodina has commended the @MagaliesWaterZA for the completion of the first of four modules of the Klipdrift Potable Water Package Plant, which will increase availability of potable water for parts of Hammanskraal.

Minister Majodina, accompanied by Deputy… pic.twitter.com/WubugY19hq

— Water&SanitationRSA (@DWS_RSA) November 18, 2024

Additional phases are expected to be completed by mid-2025, providing a more stable and clean water to Hammanskraal.

Residents are advised to continue using water sparingly, given the country’s ongoing water scarcity challenges.

At the Tshwane Magalies Klipdrift Package Plant with the Minister of Water and Sanitation and her deputies and officials, inspecting the plant ahead of the provision of potable water to some residents as part of Phase 1, which is expected in the next two weeks . pic.twitter.com/Oggiu2NhxG

— Obakeng Ramabodu (@RamaboduObakeng) November 16, 2024

GOOD’s Sarah Mabotsa said the party welcomed the scientific testing results which confirmed that the water was safe to drink.

“GOOD has noted the increased politicisation around the supply of safe water to the residents of Hammanskraal.

“The new project is the first of several phases to be rolled out to expand the network of safe water to Hammanskraal,” said Mabotsa.

She said this region of Tshwane has been without safe drinking water for more than a decade.

“The DA has been in charge of Tshwane since 2016 and, very ironically, they are now criticising the multi-party administration regarding the provision of safe water to Hammanskraal’s black residents.”

Democratic Alliance Tshwane Caucus leader Cilliers Brink said something is wrong with the Hammanskraal clean water project.

“The first phase of the Hammanskraal water project was launched earlier this year, with the mayor assuring residents that the water was safe for consumption.

“But, Cllr Themba Fosi visited Hammanskraal where several residents in the first phase told him that they have not had any water for the past two weeks,” said Brink.

We’ve worked very hard to get clean water to Hammanskraal. The first of four phases of the project was launched earlier this year. Magalies Water has done amazing work in building a modular treatment plant at Klipdrift that bypasses the polluted Apies River. This gives Tshwane… pic.twitter.com/xS3vkIFbxq

— Cilliers Brink (@CilliersB) February 12, 2025

Brink mentioned that incompetence of this nature not only destroys public trust; it also places public health at risk.

“The Tshwane mayor is bungling the Hammanskraal clean water project because she doesn’t know what is going on,” he said.

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