THE eThekwini Municipality has assured residents that water remains safe despite the taste and odour changes.

However, the announcement has been met with widespread criticism from the public who have raised concerns about the safety and quality of tap water.

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Residents from The Bluff and Montclair posted on the SUN’s facebook page, saying the test results released by uMngeni-uThukela Water (UUW) are misleading.

Some residents claim that after drinking tap water they experienced diarrhea, stomach cramps and other health related symptoms.

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However, eThekwini Municipality is adamant that the situation is under control as it is working closely with UUW to address elevated levels of 2-methylisoborneol (MIB).

eThekwini Municipality allays fears on muddy taste water

In a statement, the municipality confirmed that despite the temporary taste and odour changes, water continues to meet the required quality and safety standards.

The matter relates to elevated levels of 2-methylisoborneol (MIB), a naturally occurring compound associated with increased levels of blue-green algae in surface water systems.

“While MIB can cause an earthy or musty taste and odour in drinking water, it does not pose a health risk. The City’s bulk water supplier, UUW, has advised that it has already implemented several intervention measures to address the matter at the Inanda Dam and Wiggins Water Treatment Works,” said eThekwini in a statement.

According to the municipality these measures include:

• Intensified water treatment processes.
• More frequent filtration cycles.
• Enhanced monitoring systems.

UUW introduces advanced purification process

“In addition, an advanced ozone treatment process was introduced in May as an additional intervention, achieving at least a 50% removal efficiency in conjunction with powdered activated carbon treatment systems,” eThekwini said.

The municipality said that technical teams are monitoring the taste and odour in the water and engaging regularly with UUW to ensure the best possible outcome for consumers.

Affected areas in the central system are:

Jacobs, Merebank East, Merewent, Mobeni, Austeville, Brighton Beach, Wentworth, Bayhead, Clairwood, Merebank East, Montclair, Rossburgh and Woodlands,

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