The City of Cape Town's Environmental Health Section implements a Potable Water Quality and Safety Program that is designed to monitor, evaluate and control the quality of potable water supplied to the citizens of Cape Town. The aim is to ensure that the potable water supply of the City Of Cape Town poses no health threat to the citizens of Cape Town.
The services rendered by this program extends to the following:-
- Investigate and respond to public complaints & concerns regarding water quality.
- To investigate the possible causes of non-compliant water sample results and implement remedial actions.
- Promote and emphasize the health importance of water supply services to informal communities located within the City of Cape Town.
- Take water samples for Bacteriological and Chemical analyses. Water sample results are closely monitored and evaluated in terms of the SABS Code No: 241(1984).
- Should the domestic water quality pose a danger to the health of the public " Warnings" will be issued.
- Recommendations relating to public health are made with regard to Water disconnections.
Intersectoral Collaboration
The Environmental Health Section has a very close working relationship with the City of Cape Town's: Scientific Services Branch who is involved with the analyses of water samples taken of the City's Potable water supply network and the Waterworks Department who is responsible for the supply of water to users within the city. See Water Services Development Plan.
Recreational Water Quality & Safety Program
Blue Green Algae
The City of Cape Town's Environmental Health Section implements a Recreational Water Quality and Safety Program that is designed to monitor and evaluate the quality of recreational water quality of coastal and inland water bodies located within the City of Cape Town, in order to determine if these water bodies are in compliance with the laid down health standards. The aim is to ensure that recreational water poses no health threat to the citizens of Cape Town.
The services rendered by this program extends to the following:-
- Investigate and respond to public complaints & concerns regarding recreational water quality.
- To investigate the possible causes of non-compliant recreational water sample results and implement remedial actions.
- Take water samples for Bacteriological and chemical analyses.
- Water sample results are closely monitored and evaluated in terms of public health and the laid down standards.
Should recreational or inland water quality pose a danger to the health of the public Public "Warnings" will be issued through the media and by the provision of warning notice boards that discourages the use of a water body for recreational purposes in areas where the recreational water quality does not conform to the laid down health standards.
Intersectoral Collaboration
The Environmental Health Section has a very close working relationship with the City of Cape Town's Scientific Services branch who is involved with the analyses of water samples taken of the City's recreational water supply network and the Catchment Management section.