In samples of Nelson Mandela Bay municipality’s tap water taken in April, high levels of a cancer-causing chemical byproduct were detected at dozens of testing sites – including schools and clinics – as well as high levels of faecal matter.
Bromodichloromethane, which causes cancer if consumed over a long period, and fatigue and dizzy spells, is formed as a byproduct when chlorine is added to water to kill bacteria, while purifying it for consumption.
Public health executive director Sizwe Mvunelwa told TimesLIVE the municipality was given 48 hours to comply with a notice from the national Department of Water & Sanitation two days ago, and a public Health Portfolio Committee meeting held on Tuesday, where a report on poor drinking water quality was highlighted.
Khanya Ngqisha, infrastructure and engineering head, said: “When the reservoirs are low, we have failures, but they do not form part of the (chronic health compliance results such as bromodichloromethane). That is not how the department represents failures … (it is) not part of chronic compliance.”
Water and sanitation boss Barry Martin said the notice related to chemical compliance at a small treatment plant. He said chemical compliance was at about 90% and overall compliance was achieved by blending water into the system
“Bromodichloromethane is only a portion of the total elements monitored as a whole for water quality compliance,” he said. “With the drought and the fluctuating (dam) levels, this influences the chemical composition of the water.”
Although chronic health chemical compliance was undesirable, more important was the eradication of bacterial matter which, if untreated, could lead to outbreaks, and the municipality was investing in research and starting processes to increase compliance, he added.
The report found the quality of the city’s drinking water for chronic health compliance for April was at 37.5%. Also present were high levels of E coli.
Samples were taken at water points between 3 and 17 April, and the public health department’s scientific services deputy director Phumza Matyolo said of 39 samples taken on 3 and 4 April, 30 did not comply with physical, aesthetic, operational and chemical determinants. Of these, seven did not comply in terms of bacterial determinants as set by SANS for drinking water.
On 11 April, 37 tap water samples were taken, with 23 not complying with physical, aesthetic, operational and chemical determinants. Eight did not comply with bacterial determinants.
Matyolo said excessive levels of bromodichloromethane were found in samples taken from 49 sites.
E coli was detected in the water from various high schools, clinics, and a public swimming pool, while dangerous levels of total coliform – proving water is too dirty to drink – were picked up at several sites, including hospitals, the airport and indoor sports centres.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
SA tap water quality is declining, with DoWS warnings to boil drinking water
Mother dies and diarrhoea rife in community after polluted tap water
Unsafe national water supply sparks fears of larger cholera spread