Western Cape municipalities are making progress with safe drinking water according to latest Blue Drop Report
(Media Release: Issued and provided by the Western Cape Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning)
Anton Bredell, Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning congratulated the Western Cape municipalities and entities which received a total of 15 Blue Drop Certifications in the 2023 Blue Drop Report as published by the National Department of Water and Sanitation.
The Report evaluates water supply systems according to its design capacity, operational capacity, water quality, technical skills, and water safety plan.
“In the previous Report from 2014, we received 8 Blue Drop Certifications, so we have made progress and I want to thank and recognise the entities that worked hard to maintain their status and also those that improved on this very important service delivery metric,” Bredell said.
The Blue Drop Certifications were awarded to water supply systems in:
- Berg Rivier Municipality
- City of Cape Town Metro
- Drakenstein Municipality
- George Municipality
- Overstrand Municipality (Baardskeerdersbos, Buffeljags Bay, Buffelsrivier, Greater Gansbaai, Greater Hermanus, Kleinmond, Pearly Beach, and Stanford)
- Saldanha Bay Municipality
- Swartland Municipality
- Theewaterskloof Municipality
Minster Bredell said that challenges identified in the Report also need to be recognized and addressed. According to the Report, 8 water supply systems are in a critical condition: Beaufort West Municipality (Murrysburg and Nelspoort), Hessequa Municipality (Jongensfontein), Kannaland Municipality (Ladismith, Van Wyksdorp, and Zoar) and Prins Albert Municipality (Klaarstroom, Prince Albert).
Read the full press release here.