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NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 332
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 03 SEPTEMBER 2010
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 24)
332. Mr O de Beer (COPE-WC) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental
Affairs:
Whether she has been informed that the water samples that were at
three different sites in Aberdeen on 21 June 2010 fall under Class II
of the Chemical Determinant Scale; if not, what is the position in
this regard; if so, (a) what has been done to better the quality of
water within this specific area and (b) what is her departmentâs
policy on contaminated water near residential areas?
CW427E
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REPLY:
Yes, I have been informed that some chemical parameters (ie Chloride,
Lead, Flouride, Sodium and Iron) that fall within Class II of the
SANS 0241:2005. Although Lead falls within Class II, it is below
detection levels. I have also been informed that my Departmentâs
Regional Office: Eastern Cape advised you of the results in a
letter dated 12 August 2010.
(a) The water services authority has since ensured that
chlorination of the water is conducted.
(b) I would like to state that the water is not contaminated but has
elements naturally occurring in the ground water in the area.
With regards to any contaminated water, my Department makes use of
the Drinking Water Quality Framework for South Africa, December
2005 version. Further, when any water source is found to be
contaminated, the water services authority and/or my Department
investigate the cause of the contamination and if necessary warn
the water consumers while rectifying the incident as well as
making alternative water service available to the consumers.
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