UPDATE: Flushing out the ‘bad’ water

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DESPITE the assurance by the City of uMhlathuze on Wednesday that tap water has returned to normal, complaints from residents were still flooding in that the quality had not improved.

Utility Mhlathuze Water started flushing the water system on Tuesday and by Wednesday sample tests revealed water from an alternative source, Lake Nsezi, was safe for consumption.

But it appears there remains some contaminated water in Meerensee’s pipeline, which needs an extra flush by opening fire hydrants in the suburb to release any lingering foul H2O.

DA Chief Whip for uMhlathuze Municipality, Christo Botha, said the city is tackling this job today.

‘It may have taken a while for the water in the system to run out in Meerensee, but this should be resolved soon and tests did show the quality is acceptable.’

Water quality tests conducted by Mhlathuze Water on Monday revealed manganese levels had risen to 3.7 parts per minute in the Mhlathuze weir – nearly ten times higher than the acceptable level.

The weir is the primary source of raw water for the Nsezi water treatment plant.

But since the utility switched to abstracting water from Lake Nsezi on Tuesday, samples showed the contamination had been reversed.

‘Contrary to reports on social media, there was no overdosing of treatment chemicals at the treatment plant,’ the utility said in a statement.

‘Tests performed indicate that manganese and fluoride levels at the weir peaked on Monday, but have since returned to normal levels.

‘There was still contaminated water in the plant reservoirs and distribution system.

‘After flushing the system on Tuesday, further tests carried out at the plant and the distribution system by Wednesday, indicated that the water quality is acceptable and the water is suitable for drinking.’

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