By: Nosipho Haya-Komisa
In the past few weeks, Buffalo City Metro Municipality has been receiving numerous complaints from its residents about the taste and odour of the tap water in the Metro.
Now the Metro said they have investigated the complaints and that they are assuring the residents that BCMM is supplying 100% clean and treated water to its consumers.
Buffalo City Metro Spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya said they received complaints from the residents complaining about the taste and odour of the water in the Metro.
“Our lab first became aware of taste and odour complaints from consumers supplied via the Umzonyana supply scheme over the weekend of 31 October -1 November 2020. Social media was inundated with complaints and the laboratory received calls from DWS officials querying the validity of the complaints,” said Ngwenya.
Ngwenya said their investigation revealed that the cause of the earthy, muddy smell and taste in the water is the growth of algal bloom in the Bridle Drift Dam.
“Initial investigations on 1 November 2020 confirmed the algal bloom had returned in the Bridle Drift Dam. Umzonyana water treatment works staff had already re-initiated activated carbon dosing during the water treatment process in response to the return of the algal bloom, ” said Ngwenya.
He further said they have followed all the necessary steps to test the water to make sure that the Metro is supplying clean and healthy water.
“Very few laboratories are capacitated to carry out the required blue-green algae and toxin analysis relating to algal blooms. Algal biomass quantification and identification Microcystin quantification Geosmin analysis SANS 241-1 only includes limits for Microcystin, this being the toxin produced by blue-green algae,” added Ngwenya.
Ngwenya further said allegations that BCM water is the cause of gastrointestinal infections are not true.
“Weekly microbiological tests indicated the water is safe to drink and was not the cause of simultaneously reported gastrointestinal infections, remedial measures to address taste and odour complaints had been implemented at the treatment works and provided a contact number for consumers in the event of ongoing taste and odour issues,” said Ngwenya.