NPO urges government to address nationwide water issues

Non-profit organisation Watercan says urgent intervention is needed to avert a crisis following shocking results about the quality of water across the country.

A new citizen science study by Watercan found water in household taps, storage tanks, rivers and dams to be unsafe across all nine provinces with bacterial contamination and sewage pollution.

The report warns widespread contamination of rivers and failing wastewater infrastructure is threatening public health labelling it a national emergency.

Executive director at Watercan Ferrial Adam said “many of the municipalities, when we tell them the water is not drinkable, they tell us that our tests are not lab tests and they're not credible, so then they ignore us. And I'm like, even if it is, even if our tests are not credible, but there's this one inkling of just go and check, just be sure.”

Adam added more needs to be done to hold local government accountable.

"What's worrying me, and I'm seeing this in the WhatsApp groups in Johannesburg, is that people are really angry. But instead of using that anger to push municipalities to work, they're becoming complacent. And so, they're saying, well, this is how it is. No, this is not how it is. We need to push back.” she said.