WaterCAN, a civil-society initiative advocating for safe and equitable water in South Africa, has raised urgent concerns about tap-water safety in Tulbagh, calling on the Witzenberg Municipality to act without delay.
Dr Ferrial Adam, executive director of WaterCAN, recently stated Tulbagh residents had contacted the organisation after noticing changes in water quality and experiencing possible health effects. In response, it supported community-led sampling and conducted several tests using its iLab testing kit, which is routinely applied as a preliminary indicator of drinking-water safety.
Adam said the results showed “three tap-water samples [had] tested positive for total coliform bacteria, signaling potential contamination and rendering the water unsafe for consumption without treatment.
“When test results show the presence of coliform bacteria it is a clear red flag. Safe drinking water is a constitutional right and immediate precautionary measures are necessary to protect public health.”
WaterCAN called on the municipality to:
• Issue a public boil-water notice;
• Conduct accredited laboratory testing to confirm bacterial contamination and determine its extent;
• Implement and communicate corrective measures urgently;
• Make test results publicly available;
• Provide water tankers or alternative supply – as a temporary measure – to ensure access to safe drinking water.
Adam told Standard Breederiver Gazette she had communicated with the Witzenberg Municipality regarding the water quality, the latter saying its results indicated the water was safe for drinking.
WaterCAN said it would continue monitoring the situation and working with residents to advocate for urgent measures and long-term solutions.
Following WaterCAN’s warning the Witzenberg Municipality has assured residents that water quality in Tulbagh remains under close observation.
Rowena Hendricks, Marketing and Communications Manager of the Municipality, said its technical team “continues to closely monitor the water quality in Tulbagh.” She said water samples collected throughout last week were tested and results came back clear.
As an added precaution further independent water quality testing commenced again from 8 December.
Adam, however said that the water was still “brown, stinky and dirty” and the drinking water the organisation tested in five different streets in Tulbagh all tested positive for coliform bacteria.
She added WaterCAN had been made aware of the situation two weeks before by concerned community members.
In a statement the Municipal Manager David Nasson said that after receiving complaints, the municipality reacted swiftly. “Over the past week, the municipality has received numerous complaints regarding the water quality in Tulbagh, ranging from its brown colour to an unpleasant odour. Unfortunately, some community members have taken to social media to spread misinformation, which has only added to the confusion.
“We have instructed our independent service provider to collect and analyse water samples from various areas where complaints have been reported.” He said that the results, which were shared with residents, confirm that the water in Tulbagh is safe and meets the standards set by SANS 241.
“To provide some background, the municipality constructed a new dam that was completed and put into operation two years ago. Our specialist advisors have informed us that it takes time for a dam to settle, which can affect the turbidity of the water. Last year we faced a similar issue and decided to close the water pipeline that transports water to our old dam and purification plant. Approximately two weeks ago, after a period of 10 months, we reopened this pipeline to meet the higher public demand for water in Tulbagh, which has been further exacerbated by the unusual heatwave in the Witzenberg area.
“Our preliminary investigation suggests that sediment in the pipeline is the primary cause of the increased turbidity levels. Since Friday 5 December we have been flushing our water system, and it appears to be effective. Only a few streets remain to be flushed, and we’re hopeful that this will resolve the water quality issue in Tulbagh.”
Nasson apologised for the inconvenience the issue had caused residents and said Witzenberg Municipality was working to ensure it provided high-quality water.
Residents were urged by the municipality to report any concerns relating to low water quality to the municipality’s 24-hour Control Room on 023 492 0181/2, or via WhatsApp on 081 896 5480.
