Two water treatment works managed by water utility Amatola Water, the Peddie Water Treatment Works and the Butterworth Waste Water Works were honoured for high water quality standards at the WISA Biennial Conference held in Durban on Monday.

The Peddie WTW which retained its prestigious Blue Drop award from last year, is one of only 38 that received Blue Drop certification in South Africa. The Butterworth Waste Water Works was recognized as the second most improved waste water works in the coutnry. Last year, Peddie also received the award for the most presentable water works in the country.

“The Butterworth works improved in operation, maintenance, refurbishment and effluent quality discharge to the rivers.

“This means our systems are intact. There has been a general improvement throughout our works towards achieving Blue Drop status,” says Amatola Water acting chief executive Xola Bomela.

Announcing the Blue Drop recipients on Monday, Water Affairs Deputy Minister Rejoice Mabudafhasi said 787 municipal water authorities were assessed indicating a general improvement in the management of drinking water quality.

“I am encouraged that our municipalities have intensified their own efforts to ensure improved water quality as reflected in the Blue Drop report,” said Mabudafhasi.

The Blue Drop status is meant to build public confidence in the quality of drinking water and to ensure that proper monitoring measures are taken to ensure safe drinking water.

“For a water supply system to qualify for the Blue Drop award it must receive a total average weighting of 95% to 99% across five criterion in the scorecard.

“These include proper process controlling, an efficient water quality monitoring programme, credibility of water sample analysis, the regular submission of water quality data to the Department of Water Affairs, drinking water quality compliance and response to failures,” explains Bomela.

Last week on Thursday during her budget vote speech, Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica said her department would double its efforts to multiply the number of municipalities awarded with Blue Drop certification.