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A nationwide school water testing initiative has flagged serious concerns about drinking water safety, after multiple samples collected from schools across several provinces were deemed unsafe for consumption.
This comes after early findings from a citizen-led monitoring project indicate that 20 out of 72 participating schools recorded water samples classified as ‘dangerously unsafe’, raising questions about infrastructure, oversight and the potential health risks facing learners and staff.
According to News24, 12 of the dangerous samples were obtained directly from taps, with the remaining eight coming from storage tanks used to deliver water on school grounds. The tests formed part of WaterCAN’s broader effort to track water quality through its MapMyWater platform.
Further coverage by The Citizen highlights the scale of the concern, noting that nearly a third of the tested schools showed elevated levels of contamination linked to E. coli, which is a key indicator of possible faecal pollution in water systems.
At the centre of the findings is the potential risk to public health. WaterCAN’s Citizen Science and Training Coordinator, Nomsa Daele, described the results as ‘highly concerning,’ warning that the presence of E. coli in drinking water signals a serious hazard.
‘The presence of E. coli in drinking water is particularly serious and requires urgent attention, as it may lead to waterborne illnesses,’ she stated.
Daele added that while the tests are designed as early indicators rather than definitive measurements, they play a critical role in identifying contamination risks before they escalate.
‘Although these are indicator tests, they serve as an important early warning of contamination. We have advised the schools to exercise caution and avoid using the water for drinking purposes until the matter is resolved.’
The testing, which was conducted between 16 and 27 March, spanned multiple provinces, including the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and Mpumalanga.
Municipalities linked to the affected schools have since been called upon to carry out confirmatory testing, trace the source of contamination and implement corrective measures where necessary.
WaterCAN has also issued formal communication to both schools and local authorities, urging swift intervention. The organisation maintains that ensuring access to safe drinking water is fundamental to safeguarding the well-being and dignity of learners.
In the Western Cape, officials have pushed back on some of the findings, clarifying that certain samples were taken from auxiliary water storage systems rather than the primary municipal supply.
Provincial education spokesperson Bronagh Hammond stressed that ‘sample was taken from an on-site JoJo water storage tank and not from the school’s municipal potable water supply,’ adding that drinking and handwashing water at the school was sourced from the municipal connection.
‘The implication that learners or staff at the school are consuming contaminated water is factually incorrect, and the framing of the school as having unsafe drinking water is misleading,’ she emphasised.
Hammond added that where schools rely on municipal supply, water quality compliance remains under the control of local authorities.
Clarifying the role of backup systems, she noted that JoJo tanks are typically used for temporary or emergency purposes and are not usually intended for drinking water unless specifically maintained and monitored.
‘The presence of a non-potable backup tank does not equate to unsafe drinking water at a school,’ she said.
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