Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality warns consumers to boil water before use

Health

Tue, 28 February 2023

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has issued an urgent notice advising consumers to boil tap water before ingestion.

According to the bulletin, the addition of unblended ground water into the reticulation system, low dam levels and fluctuating reservoir levels, has led to a constant change in water quality. The metro says the change of quality relates to chemical parameters and is not bacteriological.

The metro notes that additional water has been introduced into the water reticulation system through boreholes and due to the blending of water from different water sources, the blending ratio used to meet SANS241: 2015 water quality standards is not being met.

The municipality recommendations the following actions until further notice:

Use bottled or boiled water for drinking, and to prepare and cook food.
If bottled water is not available, bring water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute. After boiling, allow the water to cool before use.
Boil tap water even if it is filtered (e.g. by a home water filter or a pitcher that filters water).
Do not consume water from any appliance connected to your water line, such as ice and water from a refrigerator.
If formula feeding a child, ready-to-use formula is best.
In many cases you can still use tap water and soap to wash hands during a boil water advisory.
If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Be careful not to swallow any water when bathing or showering.
Use caution when bathing babies and young children. Consider giving them a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water.
Brush teeth with boiled or bottled water. Do not use tap water that you have not boiled first.
If possible, use disposable plates, cups and utensils during a boil water advisory.
Household dishwashers generally are safe to use if the water reaches a final rinse temperature of at least 66° Celsius, or the dishwater has a sanitising cycle.
All baby bottles should be sanitised.
If washing dishes by hand, wash and rinse the dishes as you normally would using hot water. Rinse dishes in a separate basin with one teaspoon of unscented household liquid bleach for each litre of warm water. Soak the rinsed dishes in the water for at least one minute and let them air dry completely before using again.
It is safe to wash clothes as usual.
Clean washable toys and surfaces with bottled water, boiled water, or water that has been disinfected.
Give pets bottled water or boiled water that has cooled.
If bottled water is not available, bring water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute and allow the water to cool before use.
Boil tap water even if it is filtered.
Do not use water from any appliance connected to your water line, such as ice and water from a refrigerator.
You can use tap water for household plants and gardens.