The latest Blue Drop Report has identified eight water supply systems in the Western Cape that are in critical condition.
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The municipalities revealed to have failed systems are:
- Beaufort West Municipality (Murrysburg and Nelspoort)
- Hessequa Municipality (Jongensfontein)
- Kannaland Municipality (Ladismith, Van Wyksdorp, and Zoar)
- Prins Albert Municipality (Klaarstroom, Prince Albert).
Anton Bredell, Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, says the Department of Local Government is investigating the root causes of these failed systems, and adds that the challenges identified in the report need to be addressed.
‘We will provide support ranging from training of process controllers, support with infrastructure funding applications, and technical assistance as needed.’
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The Blue Drop Certifications were awarded based on the evaluation of water supply systems, considering design capacity, operational capacity, water quality, technical skills, and water safety plans.
It augments and supports work done by the province with its 15-year Western Cape Integrated Drought and Water Response Plan, which analysed municipal water infrastructure and available water sources in the province.
The Western Cape is home to 25 water service authorities comprising 124 water supply systems. These systems treat an average 1 162 422 kilolitres of water per day. According to the report, the province has a capacity of 2 163 000 kilolitres per day.
Despite the challenges, 15 Blue Drop Certifications were awarded to water supply systems in:
- Berg Rivier Municipality
- City of Cape Town Metro
- Drakenstein Municipality
- George Municipality
- Overstrand Municipality (Baardskeerdersbos, Buffeljags Bay, Buffelsrivier, Greater Gansbaai, Greater Hermanus,
- Kleinmond, Pearly Beach, and Stanford)
- Saldanha Bay Municipality
- Swartland Municipality
- Theewaterskloof Municipality
The province only received eight in the previous report from 2014. ‘We have made progress and I want to thank and recognise the entities that worked hard to maintain their status and also those that improved on this very important service delivery metric,’ says Bredell.
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Also read:
15 WC municipalities receive Blue Drop Certifications for water quality
Picture: Kannaland Munisipaliteit / Facebook
