Grahamstown Ostrich Abattoir (GOA) has expressed their dissatisfaction with the quality of Grahamstown’s municipal water, saying that it is an urgent concern for the water to meet standards.
Grahamstown Ostrich Abattoir (GOA) has expressed their dissatisfaction with the quality of Grahamstown’s municipal water, saying that it is an urgent concern for the water to meet standards.
GOA general manager, Gerrie Botha said he had been emailing the department of Environmental Health and Cleansing as well as Municipal Manager Ntombi Baart but has not been getting any responses from them. Botha says that for the past two months their water has shown high levels of Escherichia coli (E.coli) and sometimes low or no traces of chlorine.
"Even if they use chlorine gas to treat the water there should some traces of chlorine in it," he said. The water at the abbatoir is being privately tested by the Grahamstown Veterinary Laboratory on a weekly basis to see if the quality complies with the European Union’s (EU) hygiene standards as they export their products to the EU countries.
E.coli is a fecal coliform bacteria commonly found in the intestines of animals and humans. The presence of E.coli in water is an indication that water has been contaminated by sewage or animal waste.
Botha said because of the poor water quality, they have been forced to treat the water themselves. "This has cost us money because we had to buy chemicals so that the water reaches the required standards," said Botha.
When Grocott’s Mail contacted the City Engineering department on Monday morning, they said they were on their on way to the abattoir to conduct a water test.
The municipal media spokesperson Thandy Matebese was contacted on the same day and he said, "A test was conducted today on the water supply to the abattoir with their technician present. The results showed enough chlorine in the water. With the presence of chlorine in water, chances of finding E.coli are slim as the bacteria is inactivated by chlorine."
Matebese added that they have arranged for the water supply to be tested twice a day, in the mornings and in the afternoons.
Botha confirmed this, saying "The municipality did send someone to test the water and we found sufficient chlorine in it. Last week’s results showed no traces of chlorine." He said the veterinary laboratory took samples for a private testing on Tuesday and that they will receive the the results next Wednesday.
"It is heartwarming to see how the results are now and it shows that someone is finally doing their job." With their water being tested twice daily he said, "I am happy that they [the muni]do it and am giving them the benefit of the doubt."
Meanwhile the provincial Department of Water Affairs and Forestry said they were in possession of seven water samples from Makana Municipality and that they showed no traces of harmful bacteria. Andrew Lucas, the provincial director of water regulation and use said the last water sample received from the municipality was during October.
He confirmed that he had received calls from locals asking him to come and test their water. "We are monitoring compliance in all municipalities but we are not doing as much audit sampling as we should. We rely on information that is being supplied by municipalities."
Lucas said he is willing to visit the municipality and address any queries that locals might have regarding the quality of water in the area.
