The work of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s Scientific Services laboratory received a clean bill of health from independent consultants as it “functions in a highly professional manner to such an extent that the drinking water quality of the municipality is in no way compromised”.
SRK Consulting was recently appointed to coordinate the collection of independent water samples throughout Nelson Mandela Bay and the samples for bacteriological analysis were sent to Talbot and Talbot Laboratories in Port Elizabeth and chemical analysis was done by Rand Water laboratories in Vereeniging. Tests were done by the independent laboratories as well as the municipality’s Scientific Services laboratory.
Chemical water quality refers to the nature and concentration of dissolved substances such as salts, metals and organic chemicals. South African National Standards (SANS) 241 requires a minimum of 85% compliance.
Microbiological water quality is the state of the water with respect to the absence (good water quality) or presence (poor water quality) of micro-organisms. SANS 241 requires 97% compliance.
Both the microbiological and the chemical results were found to comply with the National Standards for drinking water quality.
Infrastructure, Engineering, Electricity and Energy Standing Committee Chairperson, Cllr Andile Mfunda said he was extremely happy with the result that was tabled at a sitting of his committee today.
“Let us appreciate the hard work by our people in the laboratory. Pass our heartfelt thank you to them as their work is very important to ensure the safety of the city’s water supply,” he added.
The report by SRK Consulting states that “it is concluded that the NMBM results represent good quality samples” and “it is therefore concluded that the NMBM Scientific Services Laboratory can reproduce results at a satisfactory level”.
Adv Bernard Hutton, Director for Support Services, said the report exonerates the municipality’s laboratory and shows that the methods used are better than the norm.
“It essentially states that we are one of the better laboratories in the country,” he added.
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