Vaal Central Water confirms safe drinking water, refutes claims of no chlorination

Vaal Central Water has moved swiftly to counter a circulating message in Nala Local Municipality that has sparked public alarm, firmly rejecting claims that its water is not chlorinated and therefore unsafe to drink.

The bulk water supplier has described the message as misleading and inaccurate, warning that such claims risk undermining public confidence in critical water infrastructure and spreading unnecessary fear among residents.

Vaal Central Water, which supplies treated bulk water to municipalities as a Water Services Provider (WSP), said its operations are governed by strict national standards and continuous quality controls.

The entity said it operates fully in line with the South African National Standard for Drinking Water (SANS), which regulates microbiological, chemical and physical water quality parameters.

According to the utility, water quality monitoring is conducted every two hours at its treatment works to ensure consistent compliance.

This is complemented by daily compliance testing of final treated water leaving the plant, carried out by the Balkfontein Analytical Services Laboratory, a facility accredited by the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS).

Weekly monitoring is also undertaken across the distribution network.

The allegations prompted intensified scrutiny in the Northern Free State Region.

As part of routine weekly distribution compliance monitoring, water samples were collected on December 9.

The results showed that the water met microbiological safety requirements, with chlorine residuals within acceptable limits.

Further confirmatory sampling was conducted on December 17 at the specific sites mentioned in the circulating message.

“The results again confirmed compliance with SANS for microbiological parameters, including acceptable chlorine levels. These findings categorically refute the allegation that Vaal Central Water does not apply chlorine in its water treatment processes,” the entity said.

Vaal Central Water has cautioned against the spread of unverified information, stressing that misinformation can erode trust in essential public services and create avoidable public anxiety.

The utility has also reserved the right to take action should false claims result in reputational or operational harm.

Residents have been urged to rely on official municipal communication channels or to contact Vaal Central Water directly for verified information on water quality, rather than sharing unsubstantiated messages on social media.

The utility reaffirmed its commitment to providing safe, reliable drinking water and maintaining transparency in its water quality management systems.

kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za

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