Press Release

UPDATE: Joburg Water responds to WaterCAN on Gauteng ecoli concerns

Posted on by WaterCAN
04
Aug

On July 18, 2025, WaterCAN raised the  alarm over the Gauteng Province’s failure to meet basic microbiological water quality standards.

Our initial press statement – which you can read here was based on  public commentary by water scientist Ms Ayesha Laher, who highlighted the province’s compliance rate of just 97.8% – below the 99% national threshold required to ensure safe drinking water. According to Ms Laher, only three municipalities – Ekurhuleni, Lesedi, and Merafong – currently meet the acceptable microbiological standards.

Ms Laher also pointed to the recently gazetted Revised Compulsory National Water and Sanitation Services Standards, which require municipalities to notify health authorities within 12 hours of confirming any incident posing a health risk. The regulations further state that advisory notices must be issued when repeated non-compliant test results signal potential health threats.

WaterCAN’s own review of Joburg Water’s March, April, and May 2025 reports raises serious concerns (tables are contained in the letter):

  • Turbidity (Table 2, SANS 241): In May, Joburg Water’s turbidity compliance was just 87.4% – far below the minimum 95% requirement. Elevated turbidity compromises effective disinfection, posing a direct risk to public health.

  • Microbiological Compliance – E. coli (Table 1 & 4, SANS 241): E. coli is an acute health risk with a mandatory 99% compliance rate. Joburg Water’s compliance fell to 98.9% in March and 98.1% in April. For a metro the size of Johannesburg, the standard is clear: microbiological quality must be excellent, i.e., above 99%.

SEE THE TABLES: Contained in our letter

WaterCAN called on Joburg Water to immediately respond to the following:

  • Are these non-compliance events isolated or part of a recurring trend?

  • What corrective actions are underway to address them?

  • Why is microbiological compliance consistently below the national threshold?

READ NOW: Our letter sent to Joburg Water and the Department of Water and Sanitation

Below is a summary of their response. Their complete letter can be read here.

JW’s Key Responses

  1. Turbidity Compliance

    • JW attributed turbidity issues to natural phenomena following significant rainfall early in 2025.

    • Rapid increases in Vaal Dam levels (from 23.1% to 121.5%) submerged vegetation, introducing organic matter (tannins) into the water.

    • This caused yellowish-brown water and treatment challenges but JW emphasized that this was an aesthetic issue, not a health risk.

    • JW has engaged its bulk water supplier to manage these variances.

  2. Microbiological Compliance

    • Failures in March and April were described as isolated incidents, addressed promptly without escalation.

    • JW’s annual compliance rate for 2024/2025 was 99.4%, meeting SANS 241:2015 standards.

    • Non-compliance was partly due to false positives and samples from high-risk points like communal taps and mobile tankers in informal settlements.

  3. Corrective Measures

    • Internal reviews and corrective actions for any non-compliance.

    • Risk mitigation in informal areas through:

      • Hygiene education campaigns.

      • Increased sampling.

      • Regular water tank cleaning and refilling (twice weekly).

  4. Public Safety Assurance

    • JW stated that drinking water in Johannesburg is safe and complies with national standards.

    • Any future risks will be managed through their Incident Management Protocols, including public notifications if necessary.

For media queries contact/WhatsApp:

Dr Ferrial Adam- WaterCAN Executive Director – 0741813197

Jonathan Erasmus – Media Liaison – 0732276075

WaterCAN