There is a significant decline in the quality of drinking water supplied to numerous towns in the Free State.
The Blue Drop 2022 report on South Africa’s water quality has flagged 23% of municipalities as being at critical risk.
Released in May, the report revealed less than 50% of municipalities received a low-risk rating, 18% medium risk, 11% high risk and 23% critical risk.
Although the country’s major cities still have suitable drinking water, it is the more rural and isolated municipalities to whom the government should be issuing “boil water” notices.
According to the findings, 21 towns located in eight of the 19 municipalities in the province are affected. These towns include: Edenburg, Jagersfontein, Fauresmith, Phillippolis, Reddersburg (Kopanong Municipality), Makwane in Qwaqwa, Tsiame (Maluti-A-Phofung), Botshabelo, Soutpan (Mangaung Metro Municipality), Boshof, Dealesville and Hertzogville (Tokologo Municipality).
According to the National Blue Drop Risk Rating, the towns are at high risk (70% to 100%).
Mario Correia, brand manager for sterilising product Milton, has highlighted the fact that the concern is grave for rural municipalities.
Correia said although boiling water did ensure that it was safe to drink, another option was to use sterilising tablets or fluid.
“A large amount of water can be sterilised at one time, providing a lot of safe drinking water, and eliminating the constant repeated boiling,” he said.
Numerous factors are blamed for the decline in water quality. These include raw sewage spillages flowing into rivers because of collapsed water treatment systems and the lack of maintenance thereof by municipalities.
Senzo Mchunu, minister of Water and Sanitation, has since expressed his dismay with municipalities’ dismal failure to maintain their water treatment systems, directly resulting in the decline of drinking water quality.
