Drinking water quality testing explained thoroughly
In South Africa access to water safe for human consumption is a basic right enshrined in the Constitution.
In terms of the Water Services Act (Act 108 of 1997), responsibility is placed on local government for provision of water services, while the oversight and monitoring duties are the responsibility of provincial and national government.
In 2008, incentive-based regulation was introduced in the form of the Blue Drop Certification programme, whereby the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) measures all aspects contributing to a sustainable water services business and provision of safe water to the citizens of South Africa.
The objectives of the Blue Drop Certification programme are to encourage and acknowledge continuous improvement and performance excellence in drinking water services management in South Africa through the use of incentive, risk and benchmarking.
It seeks to provide the South African public with credible and transparent results of drinking water quality testing and the water services institutions that supply the water.
Residents of Mossel Bay can rest assured that for the past financial year (July 2021 – June 2022), results obtained from continuous measurement of the seven water supply plants in the municipal area are well within South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) standard required.
SANAS is the only national body responsible for carrying out this accreditation.
The samples obtained were sent to and tested by an independent laboratory, AL Abbott and Associates, Cape Town.
It is mandated by the Blue Drop Programme that local government authorities must publish a detailed report regarding water quality for residents’ review.
The full report on results can be viewed on the Mossel Bay Municipality’s website at the following link:
www.mosselbay.gov.za/adminview-news/31843bfe-1fac-4aba8420-8c95ebf22ab1.
- Mossel Bay Municipality