For over a decade, residents of Carolina have faced a critical water crisis according to the Community Action Network (WaterCAN). However, the Chief Albert Luthuli Municipality (CALM) dismissed all allegations
WaterCAN claims that tap water in the area is unsafe for consumption due to contamination by sewage, affecting both health and livelihoods. Independent tests conducted by the WaterCAN.
WaterCAN revealed that the tap water in Carolina’s Silobela Township contains Escherichia coli (E. coli), faecal bacteria that can cause diarrhoea, vomiting and severe stomach cramps. Streams and dams around Carolina were also found to be contaminated with sewage, plastic and animal carcasses.
Carolina Eco Green and WaterCAN have now urgently called upon CALM to address the dire situation.
In the interest of transparency, these organisations insist that water quality test results should be readily available to the public. They also urge residents to boil any water and hold CALM responsible for sending out such notices to the residents. Finally, they are requesting an urgent, independent investigation into the contamination sources and publicly disclose findings.
These two organisations have asked the community to stand together and rather obtain water from boreholes at local churches or purchase clean water from other sources. Carolina residents are also requested to share this statement with as many people as possible to demand safe drinking water for all, which is a Constitutional right, not only in South Africa, but globally. “Together, we can raise awareness and advocate for change.”
CALM’s spokesperson, Thapelo Phetla, said CALM has an obligation to produce and supply quality water complying with SANS 241 Regulations.
“CALM, through the Technical Services Department, found the basis of the so-called Water Quality Report very unprofessional, unfair and frivolous in the highest order for these institutions to involve the media about it. The concerned group should have at least invited a municipal official during the water sample collection process and sent the water samples to respective Accredited Laboratories before discussing report outcomes.”
Phetla said as a result, the municipality cannot be held accountable for the outcomes of this report that cannot be proven that water samples were indeed collected from our distribution network. He also added that the so-called water quality report consists of distribution water samples only. No water samples from the plant’s final and reservoir water samples were
