Joburg Water dismisses citywide tap contamination claims
Residents are urged to ignore viral alerts claiming municipal drinking supplies are unsafe, with officials advising on how to report genuine local concerns.
Residents are urged to take note of fake messages about water contamination and water quality in Johannesburg.
Johannesburg Water spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala said the entity is aware of messages claiming that all water supplied across Johannesburg is contaminated and unsafe to drink.
“These messages are fake and don’t come from Johannesburg Water,” confirmed Shabalala.
She explained there is no confirmed water contamination incident affecting the whole city and urged residents not to share these messages, which cause unnecessary panic.
According to Shabalala, water quality concerns reported in a particular area should not be interpreted as affecting the entire city. Any precautionary water quality advisory issued by Johannesburg Water applies to the specific areas identified in that notice.
She said customers in those areas should continue following the guidance provided until the advisory is officially lifted, and encouraged them to verify messages through Johannesburg Water’s official communication channels before forwarding them. Sharing unverified information can cause alarm.
Reporting local water issues
“If your water has an unusual colour or smell, or you have other water quality concerns, please report this so our team can investigate and collect samples where needed. These samples will be tested through an accredited laboratory process and standard at Johannesburg Water’s Cydna Laboratory,” she confirmed.
She added that Johannesburg Water investigates quality concerns through its own strict standard operating procedures as and when applicable, supported by a multifaceted team who work together to respond to any contamination query.
Customers are encouraged to report concerns through the Johannesburg Water Contact Centre on 010 061 4470 or send a private message on its official social media platforms, providing the suspected messages along with their full address, name and surname, and contact number.
“Johannesburg Water remains committed to providing safe drinking water and responding to water quality concerns, maintaining [its] compliance with SANS 241 and the Blue Drop standards,” she concluded.
