Warning over water-borne diseases amid KZN water struggles
Concerns are emerging over the threat of water-borne diseases as some Durban residents turn to local rivers for their water supplies.
Taps ran dry weeks ago in some areas, while other communities have been experiencing frequent outages after essential infrastructure was damaged in the floods a month ago.
Cooperative Governance MEC Sipho Hlomuka is asking people to be extra cautious when collecting from natural sources.
READ: A month since KZN floods and search for bodies continues
He says tests have shown a presence of contaminants which can lead to diseases such as cholera and hepatitis.
"Most water resources, rivers in eThekwini District have been found to have a significantly high percentage of water contamination due to raw sewerage spillages owing to water trapments and water infrastructure damage.
"This increases the risk of a potential outbreak of waterborne diseases."
