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Telephone: 043Â 604 5406
Reference: 6/2/2/6
MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY: QUESTION 292 FOR WRITTEN REPLY
A draft reply to the above mentioned question asked by Mr K J Mileham (DA)
is attached for your consideration.
DIRECTOR-GENERAL (Acting)
DATE:
DRAFT REPLY APPROVED/AMENDED
MRS B E E MOLEWA, MP
MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
DATE:
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 292
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 07 MARCH 2014
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 5)
292. Mr K J Mileham (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental
Affairs:
(1) Whether the municipal water supply and/or reticulation in Ndlambe
Municipality is regularly tested according to international norms
and standards for potable water; if so, what are the results for
each test conducted in the past 6 months;
(2) whether the results meet the specified norms and standards; if
not, why not;
(3) what steps are taken by her department to rectify a situation in
which a municipal water supply and/or reticulation is contaminated
with (a) E.coli and (b) faecal coliforms;
(4) whether such steps were taken in the specified municipality; if
not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(5) whether the 2012-13 Green Drop Report has been finalised; if
not, why not; if so, when will it be released?
NW345E
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REPLY:
1) Yes, the water supply at Ndlambe municipality is tested on a regular
basis. However drinking water is tested according to the SANS
241:2005/2011 and these standards are internationally recognised.
The presence of microbiological indicators provides information on
treatment efficiency. Therefore, a public water system for drinking
water is required as a minimum to monitor for microbiological
determinants.
(2) Yes, based on national norms and best practice the municipality
complies.
(3) The Eastern Cape Provincial Office monitors the situation and
determines the seriousness of any problem. Where the problem has
serious health implications, the Rapid Response Unit, (RRU) provides
intervention support. The Department established the (RRU) since
2011 to provide emergency intervention to municipalities. For
instance in case where water supply is polluted, RRU does an
assessment to determine the extent and correction of the problem.
In the event that the water is not of an acceptable standard for
human consumption, interim measures can be put in place such as
providing water tankers whilst the problem is being rectified.
4) Yes, Amatola Water Board is appointed as the implementing agent for
regional bulk investigations and support programs in Ndlambe,
allowing them (Amatola Water board) to provide rapid response to
interventions where necessary. The Department also served Ndlambe
Municipality with non-compliance letters for failing to submit
monthly monitoring results and when water quality failures occurred.
Where non-compliance letters were written, the municipality has
taken corrective actions to improve.
5) No, the Green Drop Report has not yet been released as it has not run
the full verification and approval processes.
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