Sol Plaatje Municipality has assured residents that there is no cholera in the city’s drinking water.
SOL PLAATJE Municipality has assured residents that there is no cholera in the city’s drinking water.
The Northern Cape Department of Health advised that a voice note making the rounds on social media platforms advising residents not to consume tap water due to the detection of cholera in Kimberley, was fake news.
Sol Plaatje Municipality spokesperson Thoko Riet said that drinking water that was purified at the Riverton water purification works was 100 percent compliant with South African National Standards (SANS) 241 on microbiological standards.
“While the media has been abuzz with cholera outbreaks in some parts of the country and allegations that it has been detected in the Vaal River system, Sol Plaatje Municipality would like to alleviate fears,” said Riet.
She added that both the treatment and the reticulation networks were compliant.
“The latest tests conducted on July 8 showed zero detection of cholera,” said Riet.
“However, to ensure the status of cholera bacteria in our water, both raw and purified, samples will be continuously monitored and the municipality will communicate accordingly should the need arise.
“The municipality will keep the community updated.”
She added that nightly water shutdowns would continue from 8 pm until 4am as the water levels at the Newton Reservoir were running low as a result of load shedding in surrounding areas.
“This causes a voltage increase at the Riverton plant, causing the high-lift pumps to trip.
“Coupled with the load shedding, there are also two major leaks on the bulk pipelines contributing to the deteriorating water levels.”
