CITY OF CAPE TOWN WATER QUALITY

STATUS REPORTSTATUS REPORT

2006-06-21

MPHARU HLOYI

(Manager: Scientific Services)

LEGISLATIONNational Water Act requires the Minister of Water Affairs to be:

responsible to ensure that our water is safe for drinking, for recreation and a range of diverse life and sustainable economic activities

OBJECTIVESCity of Cape Town Quality Status through the entire water value chain

Addressing Challenges on Water Quality from Abstraction to Discharge

The present City’s capabilities on managing water quality

WAETR QUALITY PROCESSDams

Water Treatment

Reticulation

WWTW

Aquatic systems

Coastal

Current StatusThe entire Water Quality value chain of the city is measured at Scientific Services of Water Services Department situated in Athlone.

BULKWATER

11 Water Treatment Works with monitoring programme of samples= 64 844 per year

Frequency of sampling=weekly on composite raw and final water

Frequency of sampling on operation=hourly

96%compliance with SANS 241:2005.

Water Quality MonitoringWater Quality Monitoring

Constituent TDS pH EC Turbidity (NTU)Faecal Coliforms

count/100mlTotal Coliforms Count per

100mlFree chlorine

Frequency (times/year) 16380 164596 120005 157680 5200 5200 157680

Constituent Fluoride Arsenic Nitrates +Nitrites Sulphate Zinc Copper Cadmium

Frequency (times/year) 936 0 2654 2654 936 936 2654

Constituent Calcium Sodium Chloride Manganese Potassium Iron Other

Frequency (times/year) 2654 2654 7852 2654 2654 2654

Basic chemical sampling Biological sampling Physical characteristics sampling

Every 0,0625 days Every 7 days Every 0,04 days

Drinking Water Quality MonitoringDrinking Water Quality Monitoring

BULK WATER CHALLENGESWater quality from abstraction has deteriorated and impacts on cost of treatment of potable water. (ref: Towards s strategy for a waste discharge system : DWAF 2003) not applied effectively.

Algae proliferation from the Dams impacts treatment, taste, odour and toxins e.g (Theewaterskloof and Voelvlei Dams)

Powdered activated Carbon is added to remove the taste,odour and toxins and very expensive.

Uniformity on intepretation of SANS 241:2005 for Compliance

ALGAL MONITORING & IDENTIFICATION PROCESS

1. Algae2. Sample collection3. Microscopic Algal

identification of toxins 4. Microcystins

identification by Elisa Technology

5. Advice WTW to use Powder Activated Carbon or not put high cost

RETICULATIONDrinking water supply

Total of 256 Reservoirs and Distribution points in formal and settlements.

Frequency of sampling is on weekly basis

Total 98 976 physical, microbiological and chemical analysis measured per year

98%compliance with SANS 241:2005.

Water supply is still safest and cleanest to drink from your tap.

Wastewater(Domestic &Industrial Effluent)

Total 4725 registered(commercial &Industrial)

350 industrial effluent tariff samples based on City By-Law and 14 593 determinant measured per year.

25% non-compliance and ‘Polluter Pays’ principle is applied.

RETICULATION CHALLENGESAgeing of the infrastructure(frequent analysis)

Internal coating adaptable to quality of water transported needs frequent monitoring because it can cause red water problems

Stability of water pH and Chlorine through the distribution line.

More public awareness on health and education as the society is becoming water quality aware.(e.g.Maggots Saga).

Human resources capacity to increase industrial Effluent monitoring to reduce the impact of the load on wastewater discharge.

Water pollution minimisation strategy and law enforcement

WASTEWATER22 Wastewater Treatment Works with monitoring programme with total samples per year=10 453

3 Marine Outfalls

Total 109 608 analysis measured per year

76% compliance for 4 key paramaters with DWAF Permits for wastewater discharge.

Wastewater ChallengesAgeing, maintenance, demand of new Infra-structure

Rapid Population growth and increase in housing demand

Sewer catchment growth

Reticulation growth

Sewage spillages from over flows

Capital budget

CATCHMENT, STORMWATER &RIVER MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Rivers, vleis, and Coastal monitoring samples 310 sampling points year

Frequency is monthly and fortnightly

Total 73 240 analysis per year

Compliance is assessed by referring to DWAF Water Quality guidelines for aquatic ecosystems and for recreational use

2004/05 CSRM Annual Report

Rivers : 37 % compliance (E.coli)

Vleis : 68% compliance

Costal (False Bay):80% compliance

CSRM ChallengesIdentify sources of point and non point source pollution

Rehabilitation of ecosystem for health improvement and minimisation of risks in human health

Co-ordination of line function within city to ensure integrated urban catchment management is effective.

Involvement communities in river management initiatives

Managing flood risks.

Internal management process on water quality

Highest qualification (PhDs ,Masters, Honours, Bachelors and Diploma in various water sciences and engineering fields

Water Quality Data in the old UNIX system is currently replaced by Newly purchased Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)which will be live in March 2007.(Launched, June 2006)

The city’s drinking water quality has consistently achieved position 1 in SABS inter-laboratory comparison.

Launch Policy Statement (14 June 2006) its SANAS:17025 accreditation which will be completed by 2008. Legislation requires that analysis be performed in the accredited laboratory.

State of art instruments, ICP, FIA, IC TOC, UV, HPLC, ELISA

Policy statement launch 14June 2006Management commitment to ISO 17025 accreditation

Partnerships and Collaborations addressing Water Quality

SLA’s within internal Departments of the city

21 W RC Steering Committee

DWAF

Community forums(Formal and Informal Settlements)

Collaboration with Western Cape academic Institutions

Collaboration with Amatola Water (Eastern Cape)

Belgium University

OSLO twinning with CoCT

Malawi twinning project with the City in the process

Volunteerism in Water QualityFormation of Grey water project in formal and informal settlements (2006)

YES(Youth Environmental Schools)

CSRM Community Forums

Improvement on dissemination of information on water quality

HEALTH AND EDUCATION PLANS ON WATER QUALITY

38 students graduated and done projects on water quality with the city from the past five years but not retained.

45 Workshops held Citywide primarily in informal settlements spanning over an extensive area. (Simonstown to Atlantis)

Focused Approached

Understanding the cycle of WATER

Actual delivery of Services

Health and Hygiene issues

Environmental Issues

Scarcity of Water(Saving)

HELTH AND EDUCATION PLANS ON WATER QUALITY...General Water Quality provided by the City

All of the above will be addressed in a Audio Visual, intended to be complete by end July 2006

COMMUNITY CAMPAIGNS

Way ForwardPrioritise and address all challenges of WATER Quality

Abstraction and Discharge

Ensuring adequate budget for infrastructure

Continuous Education and Awareness Programmes

Develop a Strategy within Water Services to ensure that skills are retained… and capacity developed.

To ensure that alignment by the City to Provisional Water Sector Plan

ConclusionLet us work together for a better city