Tshwane conducts spot tests on water tankers
The metro is being proactive in trying to prevent another cholera outbreak in the city.
Local microbiologists together with human settlements MMC Ofentse Madzebatela have conducted impromptu spot tests on the water of five water tankers in New Eersterus.
According to Madzebatela, the tankers ferry water to Spin City, Trust Farm, Phophola, Phomolong, Hammanskraal ext 2, Kanana, Nkandla, Chris Hani Block G, Kudube Unit 10, Hammanskraal portion 9, New Eersterus ext. 8, Marikana and Soutpan.
“These microbiology tests are to check for foreign elements such as ammonia phosphate, nitrates, and others. The test also included checking the PH levels of the water.
“The City remains committed to ensuring that the water provided to our residents through mobile water tankers is consumable and up to the required standards,” said the MMC.
Madzebatela said as the metro they will continue to conduct random spot tests on the water carried by mobile water tankers to informal settlements, in particular in Region 2 (Rooiwal and Hammanskraal areas).
“The City provides rudimentary water services through 278 mobile water tankers in identified informal settlements spread across the seven regions. There are 293 527 households that benefit from this service.”
The breakdown of the number of water tankers per region is as follows:
– Region 1: 46
– Region 2: 52
– Region 3: 39
– Region 4: 24
– Region 5: 53
– Region 6: 33
– Region 7: 31
Furthermore, Madzebatela said the provision of clean and quality water remained a priority of the multiparty government.
This forms part of the metro’s effort to prevent another cholera outbreak that left Hammanskraal residents devastated earlier this year.
To date, it remains unclear what the source of the outbreak was.
However, an independent investigation into the source of the outbreak did make a worrying discovery – finding high levels of E. coli in nearby rivers, which could indicate the presence of faecal matter.
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