Media Release: Environmental Health Practitioners monitor river water quality
For Immediate Release
13 September 2022
Managing and protecting river systems are of utmost importance. Agricultural and land management practices, wastewater works maintenance, wetlands protection, and invasive alien plant control and eradication all play a role in the health of river systems.
“The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) is the official Water Quality Monitoring Authority of the Garden Route region. Environmental Health Practitioners (EHP) take water samples on a monthly basis to ensure that water intended for human consumption, recreation or use by industries is safe and complies with specific standards,” said Johan Compion, GRDM Manager for Municipal Health Services.
“The term water quality describes the physical, chemical, biological and aesthetic properties of water, which determine its suitability for a variety of uses and for protecting the health and integrity of aquatic ecosystems.”
Compion says the river water sampling and monitoring programme of the GRDM strives to provide accurate and consistent information. He added, “Sampling results assist to determine the main sources of pollution and to introduce specific interventions aimed at addressing these identified sources of pollution”.
The water quality monitoring function rendered by the EHPs of GRDM includes the following:
- Monitoring of quality and availability of water intended for human consumption, recreation or use by industries;
- Regular taking of water samples for analysis;
- Identification and control of sources of water pollution;
- Protection of water sources and resources by enforcement of legislation relating to the water quality;
- Taking of samples for wastewater quality compliance;
- Enforcement of legislation to ensure a supply of water safe for health (Water Services Act, 1977), Act No 108 of 1997) and South African National Standards (SANS Code 241).
- Introduction of corrective and preventative actions (e.g., making recommendations to relevant authorities);
- Implementation of health and hygiene awareness actions and education relating to the water supply.
Whenever risks can compromise safe drinking water in communities, the GRDM takes a preventative approach.
Sampling results serve to evaluate the suitability of the water of the various rivers for irrigation, livestock watering, recreational and domestic purposes and according to the following standards/ guidelines:
- Wastewater limit values applicable to the discharge of wastewater into a water source in terms of the National Water Act, Act No. 36 of 1998.
- South African Water Quality Guidelines: Agricultural use – Irrigation
- South African Water Quality Guidelines: Agricultural use-Livestock Watering
- South African Water Quality Guidelines: Recreational Use
- SANS code 241 for drinking water
Typical water types that are monitored, sampled and analysed include, but are not limited to drinking water, rivers, dams, treated sewage effluent, recreational waters and industrial effluent. Rivers, which receive final effluent from Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW), are of higher risk to human health, and water- and environmental pollution. EHPs inspect WWTW, and do water sampling to ensure that the final effluents are safe to discard in rivers and the environment as per specific WWTW permit requirements.
The applicable legislation is enforced by EHPs and is stipulated in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996, the Water Services Act, no 108 of 1997, the National Water Act no. 36 of 1998 and the National Health Act no. 61 of 2003.
The GRDM with an area of 23 331km² is a Category-C Municipality and comprises seven local municipalities: George, Mossel Bay, Knysna, Bitou, Oudtshoorn, Hessequa and Kannaland.
Criteria used to determine high-risk and low-risk rivers, include:
Rivers that receive final effluent from Waste Water Treatment Works, are regarded as high risk to human health.
The rivers in the GRDM region where EHPs take water samples monthly include the following:
| A. HIGH RISK |
| A) |
Ruiterbos |
Paardekop River |
| B) |
Heidelberg |
Duiwenhoks River |
| C) |
Riversdale |
Goukou River |
| D) |
Oudtshoorn |
Olifants River |
| E) |
George |
Gwauiing River, Schaapkop River, Molen River |
| F) |
Mossel Bay |
Hartenbos River |
| G) |
Plettenberg Bay |
Ganzevlei |
| H) |
Kurland / Plettenberg Bay |
Sout River |
| I) |
Zoar and Ladismith |
Nels River |
| B. LOW RISK |
| A) |
Oudtshoorn |
Grobbelaars River |
| B) |
Mossel Bay |
Klein Brak |
| C) |
Knysna |
Salt River and Bongani |
| D) |
Plettenberg Bay |
Piesang-, Keurbooms-, and Ganzevlei River |
| E) |
Plettenberg Bay |
Touw and Kaaimans River |
| F) |
George |
Garden Route Dam |
| G) |
Mossel Bay |
Kleinbrak and Grootbrak Rivers |
All relevant role-players, municipalities and state departments must be involved in serious cases of river pollution. Where necessary EHPs advise water users on appropriate treatment options in accordance with the usage of the water and the specific determinants (total Coliforms, E-Coli and Faecal Coli organisms) not complying with relevant standards or guidelines. The “polluter pays” principle is applicable in cases of continuous pollution of water resources. EHPs report non-compliance to water services authorities and institutions to implement rectification measures in cases of unsafe and unhealthy conditions and health hazards.
What is the difference between a Water Services Authority and the GRDM Municipal Health Services?
Collaboration between local municipalities, the Department of Water Affairs, the Department of Environmental Affairs, other government departments and private entities, as well as all relevant role-players, will ensure that short-, medium- and long-term goals are reached, to ensure clean and healthy river systems.
A Water Services Authority (WSA) is any district municipality or metropolitan or local municipality that is responsible for providing water services to end users. A water services authority may either provide water services itself (an internal mechanism) or contract a water services provider to provide water services (an external mechanism).
Municipal Health Services is a function of District Municipalities, and the EHPs perform water quality monitoring as part of their municipal health functions, which include the following:
- Monitoring of water reticulation systems
- Monitoring of quality and availability of water intended for human consumption, recreation or use by industries
- Regular taking of water samples for analysis
- Identification and control of sources of water pollution
- Protection of water sources and resources by enforcement of legislation relating to the water quality
- Enforcement of legislation to ensure a supply of water safe for health (Water Services Act, 1977 Act No 108 of 1997) and SANS Code 241
- Introduction of corrective and preventative actions (e.g. making recommendations to relevant authorities)
- Implementation of health and hygiene awareness actions and education relating to the water supply.
For any further information, please contact us at the respective regional offices within the Garden Route District Municipality:
Klein Karoo Region
Mr. Desmond Paulse
Tel: +27(0)44 272 2241
Cell: +27(0)83 678 6530
Address: 94 St John Street, Oudtshoorn
Mossel Bay
Mr. Sam Bendle
Tel: +27(0)44 693 0006
Cell: +27(0)83 630 6108
Address C/O Sampson & Marling Street, Ext 23, Mossel Bay.
George Outeniqua
Ms. Emmy Douglas
Tel: +27(0)44 803 1501
Cell: +27(0)78 457 2824
Address: Mission Street, Industrial Area, George, 6530
George Wilderness
Mr. Pieter Raath
Tel: +27(0)44 803 1501
Cell: +27(0)83 644 8858
Address: Mission Street, Industrial Area, George
Knysna Region
Mr. James McCarthy
Tel: +27(0)44 382 7214
Cell: +27(0)82 805 9417
Address: 26A Queen Street, Knysna
Bitou Region
Mr. Gawie Vos
Tel: +27(0)44 501 1600
Cell: +27(0)83 557 1522
Address: 7 Gibb Street, Plettenberg Bay
Hessequa Region
Mr. Haemish Herwels
Tel: +27(0)28 713 2438
Cell: +27(0)83 678 6545
Address: 23 Michell Street, Riversdale, 6670
Mr. Johan Compion
Manager: Municipal Health & Environmental Services
Cell: +27(0)82 803 5161
E-mail: info@gardenroute.gov.za
Switchboard: 044 803 1300
Feature image: Sample taken of water by an EHP.
ENDS
