Juskei River’s Water Safety Questions
March 25th, 2009South Africa. The Juskei River, One of the the largest rivers in Johannesburg, may contain trace amounts of cholera, but the Department of Water Affairs still has to confirm the presence of the disease.
Chairman of the Juskei River Catchment area mangement forum, Paul Fairall, who is also an environmental consultant, obtained the results of two samples he drew from the river and one of the samples taken from the Dewetshof area showed traces of a cholera strain.
The second sample was taken from the Marlboro area and was clean.
Paul Fairall believes that the traces of cholera found are as a result of the thousands of refugees who inhabit the center of Johannesburg.
The Department of Water Affairs reported on the 23rd of March that tests showed no cholera had been detected.
Leonardo Manus, manager of drinking water quality regulation at the Department of Water Affairs noted that the amount of fecal pollution found in the river meant that cholera detection was likely.
Mr Manus also added that regional staff would need to educate the communities most likely to be affected the risks of consuming untreated water and about water safety.
Source: The Star
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