The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has called for further water quality testing at St Albans Correctional Facility, following concerns raised about the safety of drinking water at the institution.
According to the municipality’s routine water quality monitoring records, no incidents of compromised water quality have been reported in St Albans.
However, the municipality warned that this should not be interpreted as conclusive proof of the water quality at every point of consumption within the correctional facility.
The municipality in the Eastern Cape said the concerns warrant appropriate consideration against the available monitoring records and any additional test results that may be obtained.
The municipality explained that although St Albans receives water from the municipal supply system, the water is conveyed to the facility through a private pipeline operated and maintained by the Department of Public Works. The water is subsequently stored in tanks at the facility, which is maintained by Public Works.
“This distinction is important because water quality can be affected by conditions within private pipelines, storage infrastructure and plumbing systems after water leaves the municipal distribution network. The municipality must therefore distinguish between the quality of water supplied through its network and the quality of water at the point where it is ultimately consumed,” the municipality explained.
It further added that the Department of Public Works, as the party responsible for maintaining the private pipeline and storage tanks serving the facility, should arrange for water samples to be collected from the facility’s storage tanks and points of consumption and tested by a suitably qualified and accredited laboratory.
The municipality said it can provide relevant information from its routine monitoring programme to support the assessment of the municipal water supply.
“The findings from appropriate testing will be important in determining whether any water quality concern exists, where it may originate and what corrective action may be necessary.
“Should test results identify a potential health risk, the relevant authorities must act promptly to implement appropriate corrective measures and communicate the necessary precautions to those affected, in accordance with applicable requirements.”
The municipality reiterated its commitment to providing drinking water that meets the South African National Standard for Drinking Water (SANS 241) requirements and respond responsibly to resident concerns, institutions, and other water consumers.
“[The municipality] will not dismiss concerns simply because they have not been reflected in routine monitoring records. Equally, conclusions about the safety or cause of a suspected water quality problem must be based on reliable evidence and appropriate testing.”
Executive Mayor Babalwa Lobishe called for cooperation among the relevant authorities to ensure that concerns raised are investigated and any necessary interventions are informed by reliable evidence.
“Protecting public health is a shared responsibility, and the priority must remain the safety and wellbeing of everyone who depends on this water supply,” Lobishe said. – SAnews.gov.za
Source: Original report at SAnews.gov.za.
