Barely 24 hours after causing an uproar with news that its water was contaminated by manganese‚ the City of uMhlathuze in Richards Bay said on Wednesday afternoon that its tap water was now safe to drink.
The announcement on Tuesday that the tap water was unsafe to drink after traces of manganese contamination were detected reportedly caused great consternation in parts of Richards Bay.
However‚ the city moved swiftly to allay fears.
“The City of uMhlathuze can safely pronounce that tap water is now safe for human consumption‚” said municipal spokesman Mdu Ncalane.
Ncalane said the manganese contamination was from one of the sources of the Nsezi Lake in Richards Bay.
“Several tests by Mhlathuze Water and some by Mgeni Water found that water sampled from the lake was contaminated by a high level of manganese. The city and the water authority worked tirelessly to flush out contaminated water from the system and isolated it from the drinkable water.”
Ncalane said the contaminated water was channelled to industries which did not require clean drinkable water for commercial purposes.
He said other sources of water within the city were activated to service the contaminated lines while tests were conducted.
Assuring residents‚ Ncalane said water scientists were working with city officials to find the main source of manganese and to clear it for good.
“The city would also like to apologise for inconvenience caused and a panic. Manganese contaminated water does not cause any immediate health hazard unless consumed by (an) already ill person or young ones‚” he said.
On Tuesday‚ Ncalane had said that while not lethal‚ ingestion of the chemical could lead to illness.
Residents were affected in Richards Bay CBD‚ Arboretum‚ Veldenvlei‚ Veldenviede‚ Aquadene and Brackenham.
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