Manganese found in Pretoria tap water

30 January 2013 - 10:08 By Sapa
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
Image: Gallo Images/Thinkstock

High levels of manganese have been detected in water in areas in Pretoria, the City of Tshwane said on Tuesday.

Spokeswoman Nomasonto Ndlovu said areas including Montana, Sinnoville, Wonderboom and Pretoria North were affected but that the water posed no health risk.

“Manganese and iron at high concentration affects the aesthetic appearance of the water and does not pose a health risk... the water will have a metallic taste,” Ndlovu said in a statement.

However according to a 2010 study high levels of Manganese in drinking water has been linked to lower IQ scores in children.

Over the weekend, a power outage caused the Roodeplaat Water Treatment Centre to stop supplying the Montana reservoir with water.

This filled the reservoir with back-up water from the Garsfontein reservoir.  

“Because this supply is from Randwater, the pH levels are much lower. This caused sediment on the reservoir and pipeline walls to dissolve and mix with the water, and contributes to the higher levels of iron and manganese,” said Ndlovu.

It would take up to a week to restore normal water in the areas.

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now