CAUTION: Grahamstown Water

[Syndyre]

No automated, mass (in the context), production at all? Even just a newspaper printer.....?

I just mean no heavy industry, that I know of anyway. Obviously you get a few smaller businesses around.

 

[schitz011]

"visit the Observatory Museum which houses one of only two Victorian Cameras Obscura in the world - the other is in Bath, England - with a magical mirror that reflects the town onto a large circular table."

Utter nonsense, there is one in Edinburgh aswell, I should know I lived across the street from it for 5 years!

 

[Syndyre]

Never heard about it being one of only 2 in the world, just remember hearing it was the only one in the southern hemisphere.

 

[Paul Hjul]

*wonders why they don't just put alcohol in the water supply*

Grahamstown has pleanty industry:
There is a University (that seems to run the place - I mean how many other municipalities are dependent on a small university to provide bottled water?) a High Court (that the DOJ can't decide what to do with) a Checkers (where there is at least an annual entertaining strike), Pick and Pay (that everybody who has been there for more than 3 years continues to call Spar) a Spar (that everybody who has been there for more than 3 years calls BP, and some people regard as the Sanctuary of Latter Night Munchies) at least one respectable ISP (with some semi-respectable staff) and then of course there are all the miscreants that end up in the time warp. Its probably the only place where I've found you can leave for 3 months come back for a visit and not find one change, save for the magical relocation of Spar which still seems to be the cause of confussion inspite of being accross the road.

 

[mac_mac74]

a certain company in CTN requested water content specification from Municipality (and it was quite a detailed spec) for product to be exported, Municipality declined to release the detailed spec , but made up some pathetic report - either they are too incompetant to do detailed test (which is worrying), or our water is so crap that they dont want to release the spec's (which is even more worrying)
Not sure what to beleive, as i heard a rumour once that our quality of water is very good , not sure if somewhere along the way to our taps it gets full of krud or something.

 

[Syndyre]

You mean Grahamstown water specifically? Seems like this is a new problem, not long term hopefully.

 

[Skeptik]

No automated, mass (in the context), production at all? Even just a newspaper printer.....?

Oldest newspaper in the country ...and
Grocotts mail is the oldest family-owned newspaper still in circulation ...

See, things started there but never really developed. A bit like Africa in general I suppose.

 

[nivek]

I dont know about the rest of jhb but tap water is brown in killarney tonight :/
anyone else notice that or is it just my building?

 

[RobinStobbs]

Grahamstown's water crisis

It's a pity that the hype regarding 'heavy metals' was released before even a preliminary analysis had been carried out. This sort of premature scaremongering only serves to detract from the real issue - the general decline in maintenance and servicing of our services. The fact that a number of fish died in the RU hatchery is no indication that they died of 'heavy metal' poisoning. Where on earth would 'heavy metals' enter the system! Of course only a fool would consume water of the colour and smell that we have had to put up with the past week - it's patently disgusting but because it is patently non-potable doesn't automatically mean its loaded with 'heavy metals'. It's ironic, however, that our Municipal Manager was away receiving an award for excellence when the City was in a crisis that could/should have been avoided.

 

[vespax]

So what's the deal with the water? Any final verdicts yet?

 

[mac_mac74]

It's a pity that the hype regarding 'heavy metals' was released before even a preliminary analysis had been carried out. This sort of premature scaremongering only serves to detract from the real issue - the general decline in maintenance and servicing of our services. The fact that a number of fish died in the RU hatchery is no indication that they died of 'heavy metal' poisoning. Where on earth would 'heavy metals' enter the system! Of course only a fool would consume water of the colour and smell that we have had to put up with the past week - it's patently disgusting but because it is patently non-potable doesn't automatically mean its loaded with 'heavy metals'. It's ironic, however, that our Municipal Manager was away receiving an award for excellence when the City was in a crisis that could/should have been avoided.

they give out awards for who have fooked up the least, so give Grahamstown municipality a round of applause.

 

[Syndyre]

It's a pity that the hype regarding 'heavy metals' was released before even a preliminary analysis had been carried out. This sort of premature scaremongering only serves to detract from the real issue - the general decline in maintenance and servicing of our services. The fact that a number of fish died in the RU hatchery is no indication that they died of 'heavy metal' poisoning. Where on earth would 'heavy metals' enter the system! Of course only a fool would consume water of the colour and smell that we have had to put up with the past week - it's patently disgusting but because it is patently non-potable doesn't automatically mean its loaded with 'heavy metals'. It's ironic, however, that our Municipal Manager was away receiving an award for excellence when the City was in a crisis that could/should have been avoided.

Its not the sort of thing you can really take chances with though, it is disgusting so I doubt anyone would drink it anyway but if there's even a chance it does contain heavy metals they have to warn people, imagine the outcry if they sat on that info for 3 days while they did tests and it did actually contain heavy metals.

 

[Syndyre]

So what's the deal with the water? Any final verdicts yet?

The Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology has finished testing numerous samples
of water which were taken at several points on campus each day last week (from Monday 30 October to
Friday 3 November).

Samples of water taken from the Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science were found to
contain levels of some silt and two compounds, ammonia and calcium carbonate, which were harmful to
trout, but well within the safety limits for human consumption.

The levels of silt in the water made it unpleasant to drink, but the particles were not dangerous to
human health.

The concentration of ammonia in the water was much lower than the safe limit for human drinking
water, but higher than the limit for breeding fish.

The hardness of the water (i.e. whether it will scale your kettle), which is measured as the amount
of calcium carbonate, was also too high for trout but safe for people. The water hardness was
measured as 134 mg/L; trout can only tolerate 100 mg/L but humans can safely drink water with three
times that amount.

Metal concentrations were measured in the water samples and it was found that there were some metals
in the silt, but that the water itself contained no metal concentrations above the South African
water quality safety guidelines.

In summary, the tap water on campus was safe (if unpleasant) to drink.

We do not know the cause of the colour and odour associated with the water over the weekend and this
week. While we have not performed any testing and have no lab results that demonstrate that the tap
water is currently unsafe for drinking, we would advise anyone concerned about the water quality to
continue to use the alternative water sources that are being provided.

They sent out another email saying don't drink the water though, so pretty inconclusive at the moment, I'm sticking to bottled water anyway.

 

[dominic]

must be crap to be a trout

 

[Syndyre]

Lol, they're probably swimming in BonAqua now or something so might not be so bad anymore.

 

[BobJones]

Lol, they're probably swimming in BonAqua now or something so might not be so bad anymore.

Considering that BonAqua is nothing but filtered tap water... I'd say they would be no better off, just poorer; like the suckers paying thounds of percent premium to get the municipal water in a bit of cheap plastic.

 

[Syndyre]

True, ever wondered why Evian is naive spelled backwards?

 

[baasvandieplaas]

just another sign of the decaying infrastructure

 

[RobinStobbs]

So, Rhodes eats humble pie and the instigator of the 'heavy metals' scare has his head in the sand. If only people would check the facts before promoting a mass hysteria scare !!!!

 

[Skeptik]

It's a pity that the hype regarding 'heavy metals' was released before even a preliminary analysis had been carried out. This sort of premature scaremongering only serves to detract from the real issue - the general decline in maintenance and servicing of our services. The fact that a number of fish died in the RU hatchery is no indication that they died of 'heavy metal' poisoning. Where on earth would 'heavy metals' enter the system! Of course only a fool would consume water of the colour and smell that we have had to put up with the past week - it's patently disgusting but because it is patently non-potable doesn't automatically mean its loaded with 'heavy metals'. It's ironic, however, that our Municipal Manager was away receiving an award for excellence when the City was in a crisis that could should have been avoided.

In today's climate it pays to be cautious when it comes to health. Many might agree that with a health minister who believes in garlic and beetroot cures for AIDS, it follows that she might have odd ideas when it comes to water purity!

Besides, the UK often uses the fact that certain fish have returned to the River Thames. Fish are see as an indicator of pollution because they are very sensitive to water cleanliness.

Metal concentrations were measured in the water samples and it was found that there were some metals in the silt, but that the water itself contained no metal concentrations above the South African water quality safety guidelines.

I would look very arefully at what the SA guidelines are and how they compare to international standards. Sometimes governments will lower standards because they can't afford or find it impossible to maintain them. What metals were found is not clear. All I know is that they can have very serious consequences, even in minute quantities - plus there is often no cure.