Northern Cape municipalities to give residents monthly update on water quality

The Northern Cape government is to compel municipalities to inform communities about the status of the water quality monthly. 

Co-operative governance, human settlements and traditional affairs (Cogta) MEC Bentley Vass said they will ensure municipalities comply. 

“We will ensure that where the water quality is not of drinking standard, 'boiler notices' are issued to communities until the water is deemed safe,” he said during a press conference on Thursday. 

This follows the water report released by water and sanitation (DWS) minister Senzo Mchunu earlier this month on the state of water in South Africa. 

The report indicated the Northern Cape has the highest percentage of drinking water systems with poor or critical performance (87%). This is a big increase from the figures of 2014 when 48% of systems were problematic.  

“We plead with communities to take precautions with water that comes from their taps. Where they deem the quality of water to be unsafe, the municipality must be alerted so they can investigate the complaint.”

He urged residents to follow the boiler notice until they are given assurance that the water is safe to drink.

“We call upon stakeholders to work together to achieve efficient, reliable and sustainable water services that comply with the regulatory prescripts.” 

Vass conceded a few municipalities have been confronted with infrastructure challenges. The department was focusing on Sol Plaatje and Magareng municipalities in the Frances Baard district and Kai !Garib municipality in the ZF Mgcawu district.

Sol Plaatje recently had a water recovery programme that largely depended on nightly interruptions. The municipality has reached satisfactory water storage levels at reservoirs and was able to bolster production at the Riverton water works while implementing stringent measures in its quest to provide safe water for human consumption.

“The municipality has one source of water supply for Kimberley, consisting of the Riverton water treatment works, 900mm and 600mm diameter pipes for distribution and stages at Newton reservoir.”

Vass said the infrastructure has aged, with frequent leakages, and the municipality has received a budget facility for infrastructure (BFI) which focuses on addressing bulk water infrastructure challenges.

The BFI will focus on projects that will be implemented in three phases over seven to eight years. The DWS has also funded the upgrading of the water treatment works through its regional bulk infrastructure grant.

“In Kai !Garib municipality, big improvements in the quality of the water have been made with the support received from DWS through the refurbishment project of the existing water treatment facility in Kakamas,” he said. 

Cogta department head Bafedile Lenkoe said the department was involved with DWS through the regional bulk infrastructure grant (RBIG) to assist municipalities with planned projects and ensure those are funded. 

“Through the RBIG, it is where we are assisting, but [if] you commission a water treatment plant, if there is no maintenance and repairs budget allocated in terms of municipal allocation, then there is a problem.

“We encourage municipalities to ensure there are repair and maintenance budgets allocated and constant monitoring and evaluation of infrastructure,” he said. 

Lenkoe added they also work with the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (Misa) to support municipalities with critical skills. 

"[Misa] also deploy engineers, they have a pool of close to 500. Some of them are allocated within the province to assist with municipal infrastructure support.”

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