Is the Bay's water really contaminated?

Social Networks in the Nelson Mandela Bay were buzzing with warnings following the Herald’s expose’ on the Bay’s water system. The expose’, which was published on Tuesday (6/09) revealed how independent tests conducted by Pathcare Laboratory Services indicated that part of the Bay’s water system was contaminated with a potentially deadly bacteria. Pathcare also reported that there was no chlorine in the reticulation plants which resulted in the high counts of viruses and bacteria.

A Port-Elizabeth resident, Xola ‘Jigson’ Kabi warned his friends on Facebook with a status update saying, “To all the People in the PE area, don’t drink tap water. The water supply is unsafe and the entire system is corrupted. Boil whatever you plan to use. Please spread the word.” The word reached people in minutes, with Residence Managers alerting students at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University about the contaminated water.

However, on the other hand, the Municipality claims that the tests were flawed and that the water was safe. Municipal spokesman, Ongama Mtimka said that the report presented by Pathcare was unacceptable. “The water was sampled from a water tank in St. Georges in which people wash in. You cannot draw a conclusion on the [whole] system when you only sampled a small portion,” said Mtimka.

According to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality website, “All citizens of the NMBM can be assured that the water they drink is safe to drink.” Although the Nelson Mandela Bay did not achieve the Blue Drop status, it retained the Green Drop which is 98% compliant.

The Herald newspaper is now continuing investigations into the water contamination saga following revelations that seven Senior Health Officials are practising illegally. The legitimacy within the Herald’s Tuesday report has been put into question although people are still waiting for the Herald to drop the claims.

By Andisiwe Mtengwane