The overall municipal score of 98.8% and Blue Drop status for the eThekwini main water supply system once again confirms commitment to drinking water quality management by the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, Umgeni Water and Tongaat Hulett. The Department wishes to congratulate the municipality and in particular Umgeni Water on their performance and justifiable place in the National Top 10 Blue Drop performers. The 2012 award for Blue Drop status will however not be given to Tongaat Hulett, the assessment identified a number of issues the WSP first has to address before it can be justified that Tongaat Hulett should also attain Blue Drop status. Praise by the Lead Inspector warrants repeating. The WSA / WSP’s is nevertheless advised to give attention to the recommendations of the inspector regarding further improvements: “The WSA and Umgeni Water were again well prepared for the assessment. It is clear that the combined team are committed to the ongoing supply of drinking water of excellent quality. The WSA needs to focus on its risk assessments and specifically needs to further refine its risk identification methodology, as well as the way in which it assesses the efficacy of existing control measures. The risk assessments were evaluated borderline generic and do not focus sufficiently on the specifics of each treatment plant, the evaluation of risks and mitigation measures are required to be more quantitatively based.” The Lead Inspector continued to comment that eThekwini needs to pay particular attention to its disinfection strategies and the monitoring of disinfection residuals. In addition to this, the operations teams of the WSA and Umgeni Water are encouraged to ensure that initiatives developed to ensure ongoing water quality excellence are further implemented and developed at all levels of daily plant operation. These focus areas will refine an otherwise exceptional performance by the combined team.” As stated in the 2011 Blue Drop report, eThekwini Metro needs to improve drinking water quality management practices in the Ogunjini supply system. While DWA noted the improved compliance monitoring programme for the system, data infers that the treatment plant is not providing final water of a chemical quality compliant with the South African National Standard for Drinking Water (SANS 241). While monitoring of the risk determinands increase to better quantify the risks, control measures should be put in place to improve the quality of the drinking water up to the point of consumption.
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