SABS publishes draft revisions to quality of drinking water standards

The closing date for public participation on the draft seventh edition of the national standard, SANS 241 – Drinking Water Quality, published earlier this month by the SABS, is June 29.

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Published May 16, 2022

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DURBAN - The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) are updating rules around the quality of drinking water and have published new draft standards.

The draft seventh edition of the national standard, SANS 241 – Drinking Water Quality, is now open for public comment.

The closing date for public participation is June 29.

Approached for comment on the draft, Umgeni Water's corporate stakeholder manager, Shami Harichunder, said the 2015 standard has been revised according to latest research and best practice, as well as changes to the World Health Organization Guidelines for drinking-water quality.

Proposed changes to the standard include:

  • Amendments to numerical limits.
  • Additional monitoring requirements (additional risk-based monitoring, new parameters).
  • The inclusion of monitoring of mobile tankers and static tanks.
  • Additional requirements for compliance reporting.

Harichunder said this proactive risk-based management approach builds on the previous standard adopted in 2015, to ensure that safe drinking water is produced at all times and that consumer health is protected.

“This requires responsible bodies to establish, implement and maintain water safety plans and review the plans on an ongoing basis.

“The standard requires institutions to ensure that information is available to understand and manage drinking water systems in terms of hazards, risks, treatment performance and vulnerability of the water treatment plant and distribution network,” he said.

He said this standard specifies the quality requirements for safe drinking water to be supplied to consumers.

Harichunder said the revised standard proposes that a more rigorous approach is taken for the management of drinking water quality non-compliance. He said the draft provides for formal investigations, follow-up sampling and corrective and preventative actions required.

Umgeni Water said staff from its Scientific Services Division have been part of the SABS committee that drafted the revised standard over the past three years, and have been instrumental in influencing the proposed update to ensure that it guides the provision of safe drinking water for protection of public health.

Harichunder said Umgeni Water is also aware of the challenges faced by water utilities in South Africa.

“Umgeni Water staff are currently reviewing the SANS 241 Draft for Public Comment, and will provide recommendations as required,” he said.

“As part of Umgeni Water’s commitment to supporting and working in partnership with its customers, the Umgeni Water SANS 241 review team will be running a virtual workshop with external stakeholders on June 9 to discuss the proposed changes to the national drinking water standard and also the implications for Water Services Institutions in the KwaZulu-Natal water sector,” he said.

To access the draft standards, it needs to be requested from the SABS via this link

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