Foul water odour linked to ammonia levels

The cause behind the foul taste and odour of residents’ water has been attributed to intensified ammonia levels.

The metro has been running tests on the water supply from the Roodeplaat Water Treatment Works.

This comes after residents across Doornpoort, Montana and surrounding suburbs voiced their outrage over the continuous smelly, brownish water which pours from their taps.

Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said investigations are underway, with the technical team conducting a series of water quality tests since the complaints began.

The tests include checks for ammonia, chlorine, colour, pH, and turbidity (cloudiness of the water).

“All results currently meet the South African National Standards (SANS 241) for drinking water quality, except occasional fluctuations in ammonia levels.

“While these ammonia variations do not pose a health risk, they are believed to cause the taste and odour changes residents have been experiencing.”

The odour has been traced to natural organic compounds in the raw water sourced from the Roodeplaat Dam, with these compounds being intensified by the ammonia fluctuations.

Mashigo said this has been confirmed by the plant data and analysis.

Despite the unpleasant odour, the metro insists that the water remains safe for drinking, cooking, and bathing.

As such, water tankers have not been deployed to affected neighbourhoods, with Mashigo stating that the issue is purely aesthetic and not a health concern.

“The Montana Reservoir was last cleaned on May 12, and all reservoirs in the area are maintained according to a set schedule.

“Additional monitoring for ammonia and organic compounds has been introduced to detect and address such problems earlier in the future,” said Mashigo.

While the metro urges residents to conserve water due to the temporary use of Rand Water’s back-up supply, the continuous odour issue has many households feeling neglected and ignored.

Despite the metro assuring residents that investigations were underway to address the issue, residents feel as though the matter is not being urgently addressed, as it has been persisting since 2024.

Households in the north of Pretoria have reported that the foul-smelling, discoloured water has persisted for a while and express fear over safety of consumption and other uses.

“I have resorted to buying bottled water at my own expense. We keep hearing that the municipality is investigating, but nothing is changing,” said Montana resident Marlene Botha.

“It’s disgusting, the water smells like sewage. I’m afraid to give it to my children, even for brushing their teeth.”

Ward councillor Lenise Breytenbach, who has been raising the water quality issue since 2024, expressed frustration at the ongoing lack of resolution.

“This is not a new problem. Residents have been suffering for months, yet the metro’s responses are vague and offer no clear timeline for permanent fixes.”

Residents are encouraged to report ongoing issues to the customer care centre to help the metro identify problem areas and respond faster.

On July 29, the metro released a statement confirming that the Montana Reservoir, which supplies the affected areas, had been hit by an unexplained odour problem.

According to the metro, the reservoir receives water from the Roodeplaat Water Treatment Works, and technical teams were deployed to determine the cause.

As a short-term measure, the metro has switched to Rand Water’s back-up system in the hope of delivering safe, potable water while the investigation continues.

“They said they changed the supply, but my water is still brown and smells awful,” complained Michael Kgatle of Montana Park.

“We are paying for basic service and not getting it. We deserve better than vague promises.”

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