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Media Release

MEDIA RELEASE

Statement by the Municipal Manager on the Water Supply Crisis in Tulbagh

Dear Residents,

I hope this message finds you well. Over the past week, the Municipality has received numerous complaints regarding the water quality in Tulbagh, ranging from its brown colour to an unpleasant odour. Unfortunately, some community members have taken to social media to spread misinformation, which has only added to the confusion.

Rest assured, the Municipality has taken swift action to address these concerns. We have instructed our independent service provider to collect and analysed water samples from various areas where complaints have been reported. The results, which we are sharing with you now, confirm that the water in Tulbagh is safe and meets the standards set by SANS 241.

To provide some background, the Municipality constructed a new dam that was completed and put into operation two years ago. Our specialist advisors have informed us that it takes time for a dam to settle, which can affect the turbidity of the water. Last year, we faced a similar issue and decided to close the water pipeline that transports water to our old dam and purification plant. Approximately two weeks ago, after a period of ten months, we reopened this pipeline to meet the higher public demand for water in Tulbagh, which has been further exacerbated by the unusual heatwave in the Witzenberg area.

Our preliminary investigation suggests that sediment in the pipeline is the primary cause of the increased turbidity levels. Since Friday, December 5th, we have been flushing our water system, and it appears to be effective. Only a few streets remain to be flushed, and we are hopeful that this will resolve the water quality issue in Tulbagh.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to ensure the highest quality of water for our community.

Best regards,

David Nasson

Municipal Manager

Witzenberg Municipality

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