Cape Town - The water that comes out of taps and into the homes of consumers in Gauteng is of the required quality, and the problems of pollution and compromised quality lies at its source.
This is according to CSIR scientists.
Senior researcher in water quality and aquatic ecology, Dr James Dabrowski, on Wednesday said the water found in rivers and dams wasn’t good, often being overloaded with nutrients from waste dumped into rivers by industry.
“While water suppliers might not get good quality water from the source, they treat it well, and so we have excellent drinking water,” Dabrowski said.
He explained that nutrients, mainly from sewage spilt into rivers, was sometimes not properly eliminated from the water during treatment, leaving the water unsafe for consumption by end users.
Dabrowski spoke at a water quality and quantity engagement between the CSIR and the media.
“Poor quality water impacts negatively on consumers,” he said, adding that industry, irrigation, livestock, domestic users and aquaculture suffered from the contaminated water.
There was a great need to better manage the quality of water, he said, adding that it was expected that South Africa would experience water shortage problems by 2050.
Dabrowski said the projected increase in temperatures would result in increased evaporation, which, combined with lower rainfall, would mean less water.
Speaking on water use estimation, the CSIR’s principal researcher and research group leader on hydrosciences, Dr Mark Gush, said the quantity of available water was of utmost importance.
He said groundwater and surface water was important in the sustenance of the quantity of water.
“All are aspects of the hydro-cycle and they must all work together, they must interact if they are to work,” he said.
Groundwater was a significant resource in South Africa, which ensures less evaporation.
Pretoria News