Pretoria - High levels of manganese have been detected in water in areas in Pretoria, the City of Tshwane said on Tuesday.
Spokeswoman Nomasonto Ndlovu said areas including Montana, Sinnoville, Wonderboom and Pretoria North were affected but that the water posed no health risk.
“Manganese and iron at high concentration affects the aesthetic appearance of the water and does not pose a health risk... the water will have a metallic taste,” Ndlovu said in a statement.
Over the weekend, a power outage caused the Roodeplaat Water Treatment Centre to stop supplying the Montana reservoir with water.
This filled the reservoir with back-up water from the Garsfontein reservoir.
“Because this supply is from Randwater, the pH levels are much lower.
“This caused sediment on the reservoir and pipeline walls to dissolve and mix with the water, and contributes to the higher levels of iron and manganese,” said Ndlovu.
It would take up to a week to restore normal water in the areas. - Sapa