02 Apr 2014

The Minister of Minerals Energy and Water Resources (MMEWR), Mr Kitso Mokaila has said investigations are underway to determine the source of the contamination of water in Kanye. The investigations would be in April 15.

Answering a question in Parliament on March 28, Mr Mokaila said suspicions were that the heavy rains, which were experienced in the village, might have raised the water table to a point of contact with an undetected leaking pipe.

He said the rampant use of septic tanks by the public in the village could have also resulted in cross connections and contamination of water. Furthermore, the minister said the complaints of objectionable smell in water were received around February 28 in Kanye.

He said investigations by both Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) and the council’s Environmental Health Unit revealed a presence of e-coli, indicating an intrusion of intestinal organisms in the water.

Mr Mokaila said the problem was localised to the Goo-Ruele ward, especially around the council houses commonly known as Old Camp.

He said following the contamination reports, WUC isolated the affected area and shut down their water supply and supplied them through bowsing.

The Minister said the old contaminated pipes in the area were removed and new ones installed and the area was re-connected to the main supply through the new pipelines on March 22.

Mr Mokaila said since then, tests were carried out on the water supply in the whole village, including the area in question since the installation of new pipes have tested negative for any contaminants.

He said in the long term, a sewage system will be constructed in the village in June 2014 till June 2017 to address issues of septic tanks and pit latrines, which are possible causes of fresh water contamination.

Meanwhile, the Minister further said some individuals have been known to show signs such as stomach cramps, nausea and diarrhea, which could last three to seven days and no long term effects have been known to result from this.

He was responding to a question from the MP for Kanye North, Mr Kentse Rammidi who had asked if the whole or part of Kanye water supply is or was contaminated.

Mr Rammidi also wanted to know if the water supply was contaminated, what was the root cause and what imminent danger the people who drank the water faced and what health precautions should be observed by residents. ENDS