The ongoing  water woes in and around Phuthaditjhaba in Qwaqwa, in the eastern  Free State has taken another turn with scores of people claiming that they got sick from drinking municipal water. 

According to Thabiso Tema wa Moloi, 43, he started feeling sick on 8 September, a day after drinking tap water. “It was on Sunday when I experienced pains in my tummy, then I had unknown diarrhoea. I treated it with a mixture of boiled water with salt and sugar but it never stopped. I got thirsty and drank water. The pain and diarrhoea didn’t stop. I realised it could be the water,” he says.

Tema wa Moloi says he learnt that others in his community had fallen ill too.

“I asked my family members and they all had the same experiences as mine. Then we heard from my neighbours who also complained about the water.”

Tshepo Macheli, 47, who stays in Mabolela village had a similar experience. She says she realised the water was causing her and her children to get sick.

“We had the water on Sunday morning and we all complained of tummy pains later that day,” she says.

After residents posted on social media complaining about diarrhoea due to ‘contaminated water’, Map Water said in a statement on Monday that it was investigating claims of water contamination.

“There was a voice note making rounds on social media alleging the waterborne disease at Busamed Hospital. We conducted investigations of the claims and found that Mofumahadi Manapo Hospital had three patients with diarrhoea and one with acute gastroenteritis,” the statement reads. 

The statement adds that the medical advice following a meeting with management from several hospitals in the region was that the situation is not dire.

“It has been confirmed that there is no alarming trend regarding waterborne disease in the Maluti-a-Phofung area and we further reassure the public of the water quality that is constantly subjected to sample testing. I wish to maintain that the water is safe for consumption and they can boil before use if they doubt it.” th says.

Water quality in Maluti-a-phofung has deteriorated with the municipality failing to get Blue Drop Certification that it previously got. 

Map Water says: “We urge users to either boil the water or filter the water before use. Or use bleach to disinfect the water.” 

Community members appealed to government help as they are afraid to use the water. – Health-e News