A citizen-led water testing initiative has revealed that 20 water samples from 72 schools across five provinces are “dangerously unsafe,” indicating possible E. Coli contamination. Of the contaminated samples, 12 were taken directly from taps and eight were sourced from Jojo water tanks used for potable water.
Health Risks and Early Warnings
Nomsa Daele, the citizen science and training coordinator for the civic group WaterCan, described the results as “highly concerning.” The findings suggest possible faecal contamination, which presents a direct health risk to students and staff.
According to Daele, the presence of E. Coli is particularly serious as it may lead to waterborne illnesses. She emphasized that providing safe drinking water is critical to the health, dignity, and well-being of children.
The tests conducted between March 16 and 27 are classified as “indicator tests.” Although reliable for screening the presence of bacteria, nutrients, and metals, they do not provide exact contamination levels and serve as an early warning system.
Affected Municipalities and Systemic Failures
The unsafe samples were identified across 11 municipalities: Chief Albert Luthuli (Mpumalanga), Winnie Madikizela-Mandela (Eastern Cape), City of Cape Town (Western Cape), Enoch Mgijima (Eastern Cape), Makana (Eastern Cape), Matjhabeng (Free State), Mpofana (KZN), Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan (Eastern Cape), Nketoana (Free State), Sundays River Valley (Eastern Cape), and Umvoti (KZN).
WaterCan noted that several of these areas were already flagged in the 2023 Blue Drop Report for failing to meet basic SANS 241:2015 drinking water standards. These included Nketoana, Sundays River, Chief Albert Luthuli, and Makana.
Urgent Response and Next Steps
WaterCan has advised affected schools to stop using the water for drinking purposes immediately. The organization has urged the relevant municipalities to investigate the sources of contamination and capture urgent corrective action.
A possible next step is for these municipalities to conduct confirmatory water quality testing to resolve the matter. A prompt response is considered necessary given the potential risks to children’s health.
The initiative is supported by several partners, including Rhodes University, the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, the Nelson Mandela Bay Science Centre, and the Cape Town Science Centre, among others. Results are made publicly available via WaterCan’s Map My Water portal.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools were tested and what were the results?
Out of 72 schools tested, 20 samples were found to be “dangerously unsafe” with possible E. Coli contamination.
Where did the contaminated water samples come from?
The 20 unsafe samples included 12 taken directly from taps and eight taken from Jojo water tanks.
Which municipalities were specifically flagged for failing basic drinking water standards in 2023?
The 2023 Blue Drop Report flagged Makana, Chief Albert Luthuli, Sundays River, and Nketoana for failing to meet SANS 241:2015 requirements.
How can citizen-led data better influence the way municipalities manage public health risks?
