Survey of SA water labs shows up some worrying weaknesses - Engineering News , 26 June 2009
Water quality has become a matter of growing concern in South Africa and consulting firm Jeffares & Green (J&G) is currently working on a project for the Water Research Commission to further interrogate the challenge.
The project, dubbed ‘A Gap Analysis of Water Quality Testing Laboratories in South Africa’, is coming to a close. It is an analysis of water laboratories throughout the country to identify capa- city gaps, laboratory statistics, staff issues and testing methodologies. These were compiled into a survey of national laboratory facilities.
Laboratories
J&G project leader Faye Balfour says that 200 laboratories have been identified and put on a database and the information will be handed over to the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs.
“From the 100 questionnaires completed by laboratories that participated in a survey, it is clear that the top three chal- lenges in this field are a lack of sector leadership, limited financial resources, and an undercapacitated workforce.
“The root of these problems seems to lie in the undervaluing of these vital labora- tories by government departments and the public, which results in underalloca- tion of funds, low willingness to pay for services, poor quality of work and low staff morale,” explains Balfour.
She adds that water quality is becoming an increasing concern to the public and the link between good water quality and credible water-quality testing needs to be made by all stakeholders, so that the demand for a high national standard of testing drives the laboratory sector to rise to the challenge and help protect public health.
Water quality directly affects the health of South Africans.
High Standard
South Africa has historically been inter- nationally acclaimed for its high standard of tap water quality.
“More recently, we have seen this standard drop in some areas, resulting in increased consumer concern over whether it is safe to drink from the tap,” Balfour notes.
“The increase in pollution, development and population, coupled with the decreased spending on the operation and mainte- nance of water infrastructure has resulted in severe strain on our water resources and water supply.
National Scale
“The situation is likely to deteriorate further if action is not taken on a national scale – in both large metropolitan areas and rural districts,” she warns.
Balfour notes that a toolkit is being developed as an output for the project. This toolkit aims to provide information relating to water quality testing for labo- ratories and municipalities. It is hoped that the toolkit will help improve the profile of water quality testing laboratories, by building awareness and equipping roleplayers with the infor- mation required to ensure legislative compliance and improved quality of national water resources and supplies.
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