Tshwane ignored repeated warnings about poor water quality
The poor water quality at the Bronkhorstspruit treatment plant had been flagged as far back as the 2023 Blue Drop report, scoring just 42.3% against a benchmark of 95% or higher for drinking-water compliance.
The department of water & sanitation also sent the Tshwane municipality a letter of noncompliance in February, and the city undertook to complete a host of refurbishments to get the compliance levels up. The commitments, however, were not met within the agreed time frames.
This comes as more than 400 people have fallen ill of gastrointestinal illnesses after they were exposed to unchlorinated water from the Bronkhorstspruit treatment plant.
The municipality is also accused of failing to warn residents about the dangers of consuming the unsafe water.
The water & sanitation department’s director of compliance monitoring institutions, Anet Muir, told a parliamentary portfolio committee meeting on Friday after the department sent Tshwane a letter of noncompliance in February, the city undertook to complete the following:
- Filtration refurbishment by May 29; install two new raw-water pumps and upgrade the motor control centre by July 31;
- Commission high-lift pumps and carry out main refurbishment and sludge-removal work by August 31; and
- Recruit critical staff.
None of these commitments were met within the agreed time frames, Muir said, adding that more tests in June, July, August and September confirmed persistent noncompliance, with E. coli detected in samples.
On October 14, department inspectors visited the plant and found that there had been no chlorine since September 23.
Water samples tested positive for E. coli and the plant was immediately shut down.