City health officials warn residents to be water smart

AS MORE and more residents look for alternative water sources during the water crisis, the City’s Health Department urges residents to become water smart.

This means being cognisant of the do’s and don’ts in consuming water from alternative sources.

The warning forms part of the department’s response in mitigating potential health risks and comes in the wake of the City’s increasing list of water springs that have been designated for sampling.

Issuing the warning yesterday, Mayco member for safety and security, and social services JP Smith said the initiative was one of several key interventions by the City to safeguard the public in a time of increased reliance on springs, boreholes, well-points and grey water.

The only source of safe drinking water remained municipal water provided through the city’s reticulation system, he said.

This water was sampled on a weekly basis from formal points across the city and analysed at the city’s accredited Scientific Services Laboratory, he said.

Springs and water streams did not form part of the City’s water reticulation system and were not being monitored and controlled for water standards.

Smith said the City erected warning signs at all the springs to highlight that the water quality could not be guaranteed as safe to drink.

He said borehole water was not suitable for drinking or cooking, and that connecting their tanks to plumbing systems in the home could contaminate the city’s drinking water system.

“It is a fact that up to 80% of water used in the home can be recycled for other purposes like flushing toilets, cleaning outside areas and even laundry, depending on its original use.”