Picture: Thousands of residents continue to experience significant water shortages
By OBAKENG MAJE
Thousands of residents across North West continue to experience significant water shortages and do not have access to running water. To add salt to the wound, the Blue Drop report that was published recently, highlighted that the water quality is poor.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson on Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs in the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL), Freddy Sonakile said they are concerned about the reported deteriorating water quality in the province.
Sonakile said this comes after only one water system in the province managed to meet the requirements of the blue drop status.
“Only the Potchefstroom water system in JB Marks qualifies for Blue Drop status and is thought to be in “excellent condition”. Seven systems are reported as “critical and 30 systems are regarded as being in “poor condition.”
“While only 30 other systems are “average” and 5 are “operating well”, the report has also listed several major concerns that we have long been raising, including ineffective operations, faulty infrastructure, insufficient dosing rates, a lack of disinfection chemicals, inadequate monitoring, and a lack of operating and chemical knowledge,” he said.
Sonakile further said, the report makes use of specific criteria in determining the quality of the water, specifically aimed at protecting consumers from unsafe and unsuitable water. He added that, the province’s TSA score, which assessed how well raw water handling, water treatment, and processed water delivery were done has dropped from 28% to 18%.
“This significant drop increases the risk to residents, while the biggest concern is Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Ngaka Modiri Molema, and Kgetlengrivier, which has the lowest Blue Drop score of 21.60%. The report also voiced concerns about the lack of skilled technical personnel. A problem that can mostly be attributed to the ANC’s insistence on hiring unqualified cadres for critical technical positions.
“The DA has written to the North West Provincial Water Technical Steering Committee that was established by Minister Senzo Mnchunu.
“The committee must present an intervention plan to address the 33 average, poor, and critical water systems in the province and provide a plan to assist municipalities in dealing with the skills shortages within the Water and Sanitation Divisions,” said Sonakile.
Meanwhile, the Department of Water and Sanitation spokesperson, Wisane Mavasa said that based on water quality tests carried out by municipalities themselves during the 2021/2022 municipal financial year, 54% of water supply systems achieved excellent or good microbiological water quality compliance and 46% achieved poor or bad microbiological water quality compliance.
Mavasa said in 2014, 5% of water supply systems achieved poor or bad microbiological water quality compliance.
“This indicates a severe regression in drinking water quality between 2014 and 2023. Drinking water quality is generally good in the major metropolitan areas. The tests carried out by a municipality indicate that, drinking water poses a health risk.
“The municipalities are obliged by law to inform its consumers that the quality of the water that it is supplying poses a health risk. DWS has sent non-compliance letters to the municipalities with systems which scored poorly or badly in terms of drinking water quality in the 2023 Blue Drop Report,” he said.
The Guardian 