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IOL News
04-07-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Urgent call to action: 43 percent of school water samples in South Africa unsafe for drinking
Pupils from schools across South Africa participated in the Water Warrior School Water Quality Testing Project led by environmental organisation WaterCAN, which found that 43% of school water samples tested were unsafe for drinking. Image: Supplied Environmental organisations and the Department of Basic Education call for urgent intervention to address the results of the national Water Warrior School Water Quality Testing Project, which found that 43% of school water samples tested were unsafe for drinking. The project was conducted by environmental organisation Water Community Action Network (WaterCAN) in partnership with Adopt-a-River and the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (Wessa), among others, and revealed that 43% of school water samples (23 out of 53) were unsafe for drinking, mostly due to bacterial contamination. Launched in March, the initiative empowered 95 schools across eight provinces to test their water using citizen science kits. Of the results uploaded, 73% of tested water tanks, 23% of taps, and 66% of river samples contained harmful bacteria, including The majority of results were from schools in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Gauteng. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Azile Mpukwana, from WaterCAN and Adopt-a-River, who trained the teachers and pupils in the testing process and visited schools, said they were very disappointed that some of the tests showed high levels of in the water, including at schools that use tap water. Mpukwana said some schools were very confident while testing, as they believed that the water was safe since it was clear and clean and came from the tap. 'The pupils were surprised to see that the levels were very high,' she said. She said the schools in the rural areas that use water tanks are in 'big trouble' because their water is very dirty, containing bacteria and 'They need some help and intervention. As Adopt a River, we noticed that what we see at the ocean, the high levels of in the rivers, in terms of what we test every week with Talbot, is that it is no different from what communities are facing. It is also more disappointing because not that it's not the water from the river or the ocean, it's actually from the tap,' stated Mpukwana. Mpukwana said that while people are happy that they get water in these areas, the quality is very poor. Wessa said it is concerned by the findings of the project. Wessa's chief executive officer, Cindy-Lee Cloete, said these findings are a wake-up call for the country. 'These findings validate Wessa's long-standing concerns about the state of water and sanitation in our schools and emphasise the immediate risks to learners' and educators' health,' stated Cloete. Pupils from schools across South Africa participated in the Water Warrior School Water Quality Testing Project led by environmental organisation WaterCAN, which found that 43% of school water samples tested were unsafe for drinking. Image: Supplied Nomfundo Ndlovu, who is Wessa's senior programme manager of schools and youth, said unsafe water in schools is not just a health issue; it's an education issue, a gender issue, and a human rights issue. Ndlovu said the implications of these findings for learners and staff are far-reaching, and they extend to schools that were not part of this initial testing. 'Alarmingly, with 43% of tested samples found unsafe, thousands of untested schools may be unknowingly affected, highlighting the need for regular nationwide water quality monitoring to safeguard the rights and well-being of all school communities,' she said. According to Ndlovu, the unsafe water in schools poses serious health risks to both learners and staff, exposing them to waterborne diseases and creating unsafe, unhygienic learning environments. 'This contributes to increased absenteeism, especially among girls during menstruation, and can lead to school closures during health crises, disrupting education and deepening inequality. 'Teachers face added burdens managing these challenges, while families often bear extra financial strain by purchasing water or relying on unsafe alternatives,' said Ndlovu. Morgan Griffiths, senior manager for advocacy, membership, and governance at Wessa, said the organisation believes that a concerted, multi-pronged approach is required to ensure all schools have access to safe water. 'To address unsafe water in schools, Wessa recommends a comprehensive approach that includes immediate safety measures such as notifying affected schools and providing access to safe drinking water,' he said. Griffiths continued that follow-up testing is essential to track improvements, while regular monitoring should be implemented across all schools. 'Infrastructure upgrades, such as cleaning water tanks, repairing pipes, and ensuring a reliable municipal supply, are critical to preventing contamination,' he said. The project found that 43% of school water samples tested were unsafe for drinking. Image: Supplied Wessa also emphasised the importance of environmental education and youth empowerment through training and citizen science, fostering accountability at the school level. 'Lastly, systemic change is needed through national policy leadership, regular testing mandates, public reporting, and sustained government investment to ensure that every learner has access to safe and dignified learning conditions,' stated Griffiths. The organisation added that these findings are a call to action for the whole country. 'Every school deserves to know the quality of its water, and every learner deserves access to clean, safe water.' The National Department of Water and Sanitation noted the effort taken by the pupils, who were involved in monitoring the quality of water in their respective areas. 'The department believes this project might have been undertaken as part of water quality monitoring awareness at schools rather than monitoring quality with the objective of determining quality compliance of the tap water.' Acting spokesperson Sanku Tsunke said the department has a mandate to monitor the quality of tap water delivered by water services institutions throughout the country as prescribed by the South African National Standard (SANS 241). He said SABS 241 states that any method of analysis, including test kits, can be used and be considered, but microbiological methods should be validated by best practices. 'Therefore, in this case, follow-up samples should be taken by an accredited method at an independent laboratory,' said Tsunke. In addition, Tsunke said more information should be provided about the source of samples, including whether samples were taken from municipal treated water or untreated water sources and whether other standard practice processes were followed when taking water samples at a tap. 'All these questions should be answered affirmatively before one concludes that the municipal tap water taken was unsafe or not,' he emphasised. He said these issues should be taken into consideration, as the document does not indicate the source of samples taken by the pupils. 'The department may not intervene, for instance, on samples taken at the river, water harvesting, and water tankers, as these sources may not be safe for human consumption.' Tsunke said the Department of Basic Education must request the water services authority to provide water infrastructure that will supply tap water that is safe for human consumption. 'The Department of Water and Sanitation, as a sector leader, is not responsible for the provision of safe tap water; the Department of Basic Education, together with the relevant water services authority, must provide water that is safe for human consumption,' he said. The department suggested that the findings of the water samples should be communicated to the relevant water services authorities to ensure that follow-up samples are taken to determine the validity of the samples. 'Furthermore, the current drinking water quality status microbiological compliance is 95.3%, while chemical compliance is 98.7%, and these compliance results were analysed by independent laboratories,' said Tsunke. When the results were released last week, Elijah Mhlanga, spokesperson for the Department of Basic Education, expressed concern over the water quality report. He highlighted that 9.6 million children rely daily on school services and the National School Nutrition Programme, both of which are dependent on school water supply. Mhlanga stressed that risks to pupils threaten the entire value chain, endangering millions. He added that the report raises critical issues impacting schooling, and schools, as beneficiaries of municipal and state services, rely on these organisations for a conducive learning environment. Mhlanga urged the country to address the report's findings to ensure learners have clean, safe water. WaterCAN said the results were communicated to all schools, and those schools where water was not safe were informed about the results and ways to respond. The organisation said follow-up monitoring will be conducted in July and August, which will include notifying schools with 'do not drink' warnings and supporting schools in terms of re-testing and tracking changes. WaterCAN will also engage municipalities to demand tank cleaning and improved infrastructure, equip pupils and teachers with continued awareness and advocacy tools, and support and engage the Department of Basic Education about the situation and crafting solutions.
Russia Today
27-06-2025
- Health
- Russia Today
Study exposes water danger in South African schools
A South African environmental organization has found that 43% of schools participating in a testing project reported water samples contaminated with harmful bacteria. The findings were published on Wednesday. Only 36.7% of South Africa's rural population has access to safe drinking water, compared to 71.8% in urban areas, according to a 2024 report by Statistics South Africa. The country's water infrastructure is also under strain – 29% of water supply systems were deemed to be in critical condition, the 2023 Blue Drop report found. Launched in March, the Water Community Action Network (WaterCAN) involved teachers and pupils from 95 schools in eight provinces who used citizen science kits developed by iLAB to test local water sources. Out of 54 schools that uploaded data, 23 reported contaminated samples. Tank water showed the worst results – 73% of tanks tested positive for bacteria like coliforms and escherichia coli. River water followed at 66%, while 23% of tap water samples also failed to meet safety standards. 'This isn't just a water issue,' WaterCAN executive director Dr Ferrial Adam stressed. 'Children can't learn if they're sick, unsafe, or without access to something as basic as clean water.' Responding to the findings, Department of Basic Education spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said 'It is critical that as a country we should address all the matters raised in the report to ensure that our learners consume clean, safe water,' as quoted by IOL. Despite gradual improvements in infrastructure, millions across Africa still lack access to safe drinking water. According to a 2023 report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), approximately 70% of people in African countries have access to basic water services. Only 19% of the population in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), 12.6% in Ethiopia, 6.2% in the Central African Republic (CAR), and 5.6% in Chad have access to safe sources. The Republic of the Congo performs better, with access at 46%. People without reliable access face heightened risks of cholera, dysentery, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever. In Chad, poor water quality accounted for 10% of all deaths in 2019, according to health data. The Central African Republic followed closely at 9.5%, with Niger and South Sudan each at 8.2%, and Nigeria at 7%.
IOL News
26-06-2025
- Health
- IOL News
South African schools have unsafe drinking water, reveals Water Warrior School Project
Pupils from schools across South Africa participated in the Water Warrior School Water Quality Testing Project led by environmental organisation WaterCAN, which found that 43% of school water samples tested were unsafe for drinking. Image: Supplied In a startling revelation, results from the Water Warrior School Water Quality Testing Project conducted by pupils in schools across the country have revealed that a staggering 43% of school water samples tested were found to be unsafe for drinking. Launched during World Water Month in March, the project was led by the environmental organisation Water Community Action Network (WaterCAN) in partnership with Adopt-a-River and the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (Wessa) among others. WaterCAN said the project empowered 95 schools across 8 provinces to test the quality of their water supplies ranging from taps and tanks to rivers. The organisation said pupils used citizen science kits developed by iLAB and pupils and teachers were trained to test, interpret, and upload their findings via the MapMyWater platform. The report released on Wednesday stated that of the 54 schools that successfully uploaded results, 23 samples (43%) were contaminated, mostly due to unsafe bacteria. Additionally, 73% of tested water tanks were found to contain harmful bacteria, and several tap water and river samples also raised red flags. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The majority of results were from schools in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Gauteng. The summary of the results stated that 23 out of 53 (43%) of samples were classified as unsafe for human consumption as they showed unacceptable levels of bacterial contamination, including coliform bacteria and Furthermore, 7 out of 31 (23%) taps showed bacterial contamination, 14 out of 19 (73%) water tanks showed bacterial contamination, and 2 out of 3 (66%) rivers showed bacterial contamination. According to WaterCAN, the chemical results were mostly safe. 'The nitrate and nitrite tests were all safe; the phosphates showed levels that should be monitored in 6 tap water samples, 5 tanks, and 1 river. 'The chlorine also raised concerns with warnings of pH reaching the lower limits of 6 in 11 tap water samples and 4 tank water samples,' stated the organisation. More than a mere data exercise, this project serves as a wake-up call, according to WaterCAN. 'Unsafe water is not just a health issue; it's an education issue, a gender issue, and a human rights issue. To reiterate, while we cannot generalise the water quality status of all schools, the findings do highlight systemic concerns that likely apply nationwide,' they said. When schools lack clean water, the consequences are profound, it said. 'Children fall ill. Young girls miss school due to inadequate sanitation. Teachers struggle to create safe learning environments. Families are forced to buy bottled water with money meant for food or transport. These are not isolated incidents; they are symptoms of systemic neglect,' said the organisation. National Department of Basic Education spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga, said the department has noted the report on water quality with concern. Mhlanga said this sector has a large majority of children who rely on the services provided in schools. He stated that the National School Nutrition Programme, which provides meals to 9.6 million children daily, depends on the water supply available in the areas where the schools are located. 'Any risk to which the pupils are exposed poses a serious threat to the entire value chain, thus placing the lives of millions of children at risk,' said Mhlanga. Mhlanga said the report therefore raises critical matters that have an impact on schooling in the country.
The Herald
26-06-2025
- Health
- The Herald
Nearly half of school water samples tested unsafe: WaterCAN project
The worst-performing water source was JoJo tanks, which many rural and township schools rely on when piped water is not available. Poor maintenance, infrequent cleaning and municipal water issues were flagged as major contributors. For many pupils, especially in rural and quintile 1-3 schools, water has become an item they carry with them, sometimes in bottles from home. Some schools rely on streams or rainwater for daily use. In extreme cases, pupils relieve themselves in open fields due to a lack of functioning toilets, with no water or soap for hygiene. The lack of water does not just affect health; it affects dignity, concentration and school attendance, especially for girls during their menstruation. 'Unsafe water is not just a health issue; it's an education issue, a gender issue and a human rights issue,' said WaterCAN executive director Dr Ferrial Adam . What set this project apart was the involvement of pupils, who were trained to conduct water quality tests using citizen science kits. In cases where water was unsafe, project partners notified the schools and offered guidance on short-term solutions and long-term engagement with municipalities. 'This is not just citizen science — it's civic action,' said Adam. 'We cannot rely on learners alone to test their water, but we can develop young leaders with real agency. 'With more than 24,000 schools in South Africa, this sample represents a fraction, but the findings suggest systemic challenges that demand urgent national attention. 'This underlines the urgent need for a much broader, nationally co-ordinated testing and response programme. Every school deserves to know the quality of its water. Every learner deserves clean, safe access.' TimesLIVE
Daily Maverick
25-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Maverick
School children discover that more than 40% of school water samples they tested are unsafe
The Department of Basic Education has expressed 'concern' about the test results from seven provinces. Citizen science tests by children and teachers in seven provinces suggest that roughly 40% of the school water samples they collected are not safe to drink because of stomach bug bacteria and other water contaminants. While the informal testing project was based on a very small sample of schools – mainly in townships and rural areas – they nevertheless closely mirror the findings of the government's last official Blue Drop report, which found that 'it was not microbiologically safe to drink the water in almost half (46%) of our drinking water systems at times during 2022 when the Blue Drop audit was done'. The Blue Drop report also stated that the poor tap water quality found in many smaller municipalities increases the risk of life-threatening water-borne diseases such as cholera and chronic diarrhoea. In the latest Water Warriors test programme, children and teachers at 95 schools nationwide collected and analysed samples during a series of World Water Day events in March. Subsequent analysis showed that 43% of samples were classified as unsafe for human consumption due to unacceptable levels of bacterial contamination. Large plastic water storage containers (JoJo and similar tanks) showed the highest levels of contamination (73%) while 66% of river-collected water and 23% of municipal tap water samples were also contaminated with E. coli and other intestinal bugs. Dr Ferrial Adam, executive director of WaterCAN, a national civil society organisation which helped to initiate the project, said the results would be shared with all the schools involved and the Department of Basic Education. 'When schools lack clean water, the consequences are profound. Children fall ill. Teachers struggle to create safe learning environments. Families are forced to buy bottled water with money meant for food or transport. These are not isolated incidents – they are symptoms of systemic neglect,' she said. Increasingly, many schools across the country were operating with intermittent or no piped water supply, relying instead on boreholes, rainwater harvesting or water tank deliveries. These sources were often unreliable, poorly maintained or contaminated. Adam acknowledged that: 'This project was a snapshot, not a full picture. With 95 schools participating, this represents only a tiny fraction of the more than 24,000 schools in South Africa.' But the fact that more than 40% of the tested water samples were unsafe for drinking was 'alarming', and suggested that many more schools could be facing similar or worse conditions without knowing it. 'While we cannot generalise about the water quality status of all schools, the findings do highlight systemic concerns that likely apply nationwide.' Department of Basic Education spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga has also expressed 'concern' about the test results, noting that the National School Nutrition Programme – which provides meals to 9.6 million children daily – also depends on the water supply available in the areas where the schools are located. 'Any risk to which the learners are exposed poses a serious threat to the entire value chain thus placing the health of millions of children at risk. The report therefore raises critical matters that have an impact on schooling in the country.' 'Schools are beneficiaries of services rendered by municipalities and other organs of state, so they depend on those organisations established specifically to provide services that are needed for education to take place in a conducive environment.' The testing, under the umbrella of the Water Warriors Collective, was initiated by WaterCAN, with support from Adopt-a-River, the Wildlife and Environment Society, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, the Cape Town Science Centre, the Nelson Mandela Bay Science Centre, Makhanda River Rescue and the Leap Institute. The testing kits were supplied by the i-lab group which designed portable kits for non-scientific field operatives to do a basic water quality screening on chemicals (nitrates, nitrites, phosphates, chlorine, alkalinity, pH and hardness) and microbiological contamination (total coliform, E. coli) to determine the water's safety for human consumption. DM
