DA issues serious warning about water quality
According to a statement dated March 26, the DA, after damning revelations from the 2023 Blue Drop Report, called for an urgent debate in the Mpumalanga Legislature on the state of water in the province.
Mpumalanga water is hazardous and must be boiled before consumption. This is the viewpoint of Trudie Grovè-Morgan, DA spokesperson on cooperative governance and traditional affairs (CoGTA).
According to a statement dated March 26, the DA, after damning revelations from the 2023 Blue Drop Report, called for an urgent debate in the Mpumalanga Legislature on the state of water in the province.
Grovè-Morgan said the report compiled by the Department of Water and Sanitation over the past two years cast significant doubt over the quality of water coming out of our taps throughout the province.
The report noted that:
• Between 2014 and 2023, the quality of drinking water worsened as the number of critical water supply systems increased from 23 to 34.
• The microbiological compliance of 64% of water coming out of our water supply systems was unacceptable.
• The presence of chemicals in 35% of water supply systems was unacceptable.
The report also noted that in the presence of high microbiological non-compliance, the water in these supply systems poses a serious threat to the residents.
“Instances like the above are extremely concerning, given that water is a fundamental basic human right and that most of our residents rely on tap water.
“Residents living in many areas of our province recently have taken to social media to express discontent with the appearance of the water coming out of their taps.”
The statement added good water quality is a necessity and not a luxury.
The DA went as far as writing to the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) in 2022, requesting them to investigate the quality of drinking water in Mpumalanga after another Blue Drop Report issued a warning to residents to boil their tap water as it was hazardous for human consumption.
“We are still waiting for the outcome of that investigation. On Human Rights Day, the DA also filed a complaint with the SAHRC against the ANC government’s brazen and ongoing violation of Section 27 of the Bill of Rights.”
The DA urged residents of the province to take the warning seriously to avoid waterborne diseases.
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