Overstrand Municipality’s water management scored a whopping 99,99% in the national Department of Water and Sanitation’s (DWS) Blue Drop rating process, which was the highest score of all metros and local municipalities in the whole of South Africa for the management of drinking-water quality supplied to its residents.
This was revealed in the 2023 full Blue Drop Report released by the department on 5 December.
Altogether 144 municipalities covering 958 water-supply systems were evaluated on their drinking-water compliance, management plans, capacity and condition of infrastructure, required maintenance done on infrastructure, correct operation of the infrastructure, following of proper treatment processes, proper monitoring and controls in place; and the necessary skills and qualifications of staff.
The Overstrand also received the award for the most well- performing Water Services Authority (WSA) in the country, with a total Blue Drop score of 99,9%. All eight Overstrand water schemes achieved Blue Drop status, ie scores of more than 95%, and six Overstrand plants achieved the six highest scores in the country of the 958 water systems.
The City of Cape Town achieved the second highest score in the Western Cape with 98,1% and George Municipality was third with 94,95%. According to the Blue Drop Performance Barometer 15 Western Cape municipalities improved on their Blue Drop scores, while the remaining 10 municipalities had regressed on their municipal Blue Drop scores.
Overstrand Municipality, with service provider Veolia Services SA, manages nine water-treatment plants with the capacity to produce 60 million F of drinking water per day.
“Overstrand residents can be assured they are drinking the best water in the country directly from their own tap,” said an elated Overstrand Executive Mayor, Dr Annelie Rabie. “Our team has done us proud in achieving this coveted award.”
The Blue Drop Report stated the Overstrand Municipality had impressed with the cooperative way in which it provided potable water to its customers with Veolia Water. During the assessment it was clear their relationship was built on trust and mutual respect, with continuous communication between the two entities being key to operations. The regulator experienced a well-prepared team during the assessment and all information provided was relevant to the process.
Overstrand Municipality, with a total score of 101%, also achieved the top position in the country in DWS’s No Drop certification programme, which evaluates municipalities on their water-demand management programmes, ie the management of municipal water losses and non-revenue water.
