‘Govt is untrustworthy’: Some Emfuleni residents don't believe water contamination resolved
In March, a spilt sewage pipe rendered the water dangerous for human consumption, prompting the municipality to cut water supply and begin cleanup operations.
Picture: Pixabay.com
JOHANNESBURG - The resolution of the contamination of municipal water supply in Emfuleni, south of Johannesburg, has not given some residents enough confidence to consume the water.
In March, a spilt sewage pipe rendered the water dangerous for human consumption.
This prompted the municipality, which is embroiled in several scandals including maladministration and an inability to provide adequate service delivery, to cut water supply and begin cleanup operations.
The Emfuleni Local Municipality said a team of experts launched an investigation after receiving complaints in March to identify the root cause of the contamination.
It said after the cutoff, pipes were flushed, then drinking water in the affected areas taken for testing, where it said results revealed that the water quality had been restored to the acceptable.
However, that was not enough for some residents, who said they experienced the abject effects of the municipality’s failure to take their needs into account.
“The government is untrustworthy - one minute it’s fine, then it’s not,” said one resident.
“Government tells both lies and truths. I’ll continue boiling my water,” added another.
These residents said it would take a long time before trust in their municipality was restored.