Council to consider water report

Council to consider water report

A REPORT on the discolouration of drinking water in sections of Wavecrest will be tabled at an Infrastructure standing committee of the Kouga Council on Thursday, March 15.

The report was requested by Kouga Executive Mayor Booi Koerat following complaints about the colour of the drinking water over the summer holiday period.

The Mayor said he was alarmed to learn about the problem.

"According to residents, they have been battling with this for years. I would like to thank them for bringing it to the attention of the new Council so that possible solutions can be explored," he said.

He said the discolouration of the water was caused by the iron and manganese content of the local groundwater.

“ The iron and manganese change colour when it is oxidised at the water treatment plant. The discolouration is not always evident but occurs more regularly over December and January when water from the Churchill Dam, which is high in chlorine, has to be mixed with the borehole water from time to time to meet the high holiday demand,” he said.  

The Mayor said the report would outline which areas in Wavecrest were affected, as well as possible solutions and funding estimates.