Two-thirds of SA water unsafe

ALARMING TREND: SNAP SURVEY FINDS E. COLI IN TAPS, TANKS, RIVERS, DAMS NATIONWIDE >>→ WaterCan warns household exposure points now carry direct risk.

- Jarryd Westerdale

A recent snap survey of South Africa's water resources indicates E. coli is present in up to two-thirds of the country's water supply.

The Water Community Action Network (WaterCan) sent 500 test kits to random locations nationwide in September and the results revealed an alarming trend.

Releasing its report on the tests, WaterCan laid the blame on poor sewerage and wastewater treatment systems.

Tests were not limited to natural water sources; WaterCan found E. coli in taps and JoJo tanks.

"These are direct household exposure points, not just polluted rivers downstream. These findings show the risk has already moved into people's homes and schools via taps and tanks," WaterCan said.

The presence of E. coli in water supply systems is caused by contamination from human and animal faeces.

In Gauteng, 39 of the 59 (66%) samples classified the water as unsafe for human consumption.

Dams and rivers accounted for 28 of those samples, with 75% of the tests showing high levels of bacterial contamination.