Kouga Municipality is one of the best-performing water service authorities in the Eastern Cape, receiving an overall 64.59 percent in the latest Blue Drop assessment, released by the Department of Water and Sanitation for 2022/2023.
This is a commendable improvement of over 12 percent compared to 2014, the previous Blue Drop Report. The score was further supported by an excellent technical site assessment score of 91 percent for the Jeffreys Bay Water Treatment Works.
Additionally, there was an improvement in Blue Drop Risk Rating across all eight systems, reflecting the municipality’s dedication to water service excellence.
Noteworthy is the near-perfect microbiological health compliance scores, reaching close to 100 percent for all water sources, including dams, springs, and boreholes.
However, the report also highlights areas where chemical water quality compliance and aesthetic turbidity falls short in some systems, and the need for a thorough review and update of operational and compliance programmes.
“Improved water quality ensures the health and well-being of the community, while a reliable water supply contributes to economic stability and growth.”
According to Bornman, while the water quality results were excellent, several plans are in place to improve Kouga’s water management capacity.
“These include automation of water systems and remote monitoring of plant operations, the introduction of new technology, and improved water security by expanding ground water supply sources.”
