The problem was first raised publicly by the Social Development and Infrastructure Development and Technical Services portfolio committees who‚ on 16 and 17 May‚ highlighted that high levels of E.coli — a bacterium indicating contamination by faeces or sewage‚ which can cause a number of illnesses — was found in the water supply.
This raised questions over Makana’s management of water-supply infrastructure and sanitation.
Only after these concerns were raised at the committees did officials explain that they had not been testing the water‚ and did not have the necessary chemicals to treat the water because of financial constraints.
They assured the public that the chemicals were on the way.
According to Flow‚ a Rhodes University student research initiative‚ there are two water treatment works in Makana: the James Kleynhans Water Treatment plant‚ which supplies the poorer eastern side of Grahamstown with water‚ and Waainek Water Treatment works‚ which provides water to the wealthier university orientated side.
In 2015‚ Makana Municipality hired Amatola Water‚ a company which specialises in providing sanitation and water supply services to municipalities‚ to manage Makana’s unreliable water supply.
According to the Grahamstown Residents Association (GRA) and officials‚ this left Makana without the skills or resources needed for water management operations.
Months later‚ after independent tests were done in Grahamstown and the issues were raised at the portfolio committees meeting‚ the municipality was forced to address the issue of contamination.
It is an issue of municipalities who only think they are accountable to their political parties‚ when you need to be accountable to your residents‚” said Kota.
Infrastructure upgrades are underway at both James Kleynhans and Waainek water treatment plants.