South African water quality

What is good quality water?

According to research done by the African Water Research Commission (WRC), people trust water to be of good quality when:

• • The water looks clean

• • Nobody gets sick after drinking the water

• • The water tastes good

• • The water smells good

• • The water is not polluted

• • The water is purified.

People distrust the quality of water when:

• • The water looks dirty

• • The water tastes bad

• • The water is not purified

• • The water smells bad

• • Some people got sick from the water

• • There are chemicals in the water.

Interestingly, people rely more on their own observations rather than media reports when they decide if water is safe to drink. Also, when people think that they receive good municipal services, they tend to think that the water supplied by these services is of good drinking quality, too. Is it?

Who determines and governs South Africa’s water quality?

At present (2015), South Africa’s, drinking water quality is governed by policies and regulations based on international standards. Water service authorities, such as municipalities or district municipalities, are required to regularly submit information regarding water quality and the management thereof to the national Blue Drop System (BDS). Many urban municipalities have managed to consistently improve their water quality management whilst some of the rural and under-resourced municipalities have fallen behind. At least one research study suggests that water quality monitoring in these municipalities could be improved by designing systems that respond directly to local needs.

How is it measured?

South Africa’s water quality is measured in terms of SANS 241 (South African National Standard) for drinking water. This standard compares well with the best in the world.

Research done by the African Water Research Commission (WRC) in 2011 found that:

• • 81% of urban South Africans from all income levels perceived their tap water to be safe to drink

• • Women were significantly less confident about the safety of tap water than men

• • Younger people (16-34) were more positive about the safety of drinking water than older people (35+).

“While we quite rightly have concerns of water quality issues in the context of pollution and acid mine drainage, we need to remind ourselves that by and large drinking water quality in South Africa is still very good”, said Dhesigen Naidoo, a previous CEO of the South African Water Research Commission (WRC).

What do the latest reports say?

Results of the AfriForum Blue Drop report released in 2015 indicated that the quality of water has improved since the previous year and that only five of the 132 towns whose drinking water was not up to standard has not yet complied.

Julius Kleinhans, the lobby group’s head of environmental affairs, remarked that AfriForum was still concerned about the state of water quality throughout the country and felt it was essential to keep on continuously monitoring our drinking and sewage water. He added, however, that it is a good sign to see “organised communities taking responsibility and standing up for their rights and monitoring the quality of the water provided by their municipalities”.

What you can do

During March, we celebrate National Water Week (17 to 22 March), World Day for Water (22 March) and River Day (25 March). So, although most of us are happy about the quality of our water, there are many South Africans that do not have this luxury. Therefore, think before you do anything that may compromise the quality of water.

 

Sources
Rivett, U. et.al. Monitoring drinking water quality in South Africa: designing information systems for local needs. Water SA, vol. 39 (3) 2013
Water quality improving but still a concern: AfriForum. Retrieved from: http://www.news24.com
www.unwater.org
www.wrc.org.za

 

Revised by: M van Os