Water Services Act, 1997 (Act No. 108 of 1997)RegulationsRegulations Relating to Compulsory National Standards and Measures to Conserve Water5. Quality of potable water |
| (1) | Within two years of the promulgation of these Regulations, a water services authority must include a suitable programme for sampling the quality of potable water provided by it to consumers in its water services development plan. |
| (2) | The water quality sampling programme contemplated in subregulation (1) must specify the points at which potable water provided to consumers will be sampled, the frequency of sampling and for which substances and determinants the water will be tested. |
| (3) | A water services institution must compare the results obtained from the testing of the samples with SABS 241 : Specifications for Drinking Water, or the South African Water Quality Guidelines published by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. |
| (4) | Should the comparison of the results as contemplated in subregullation (3) indicate that the water supplied poses a health risk, the water services institution must inform the Director-General of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry and the head of the relevant Provincial Department of Health and it must take steps to inform its consumers— |
| (a) | that the quality of the water that it supplies poses a health risk; |
| (b) | of the reasons for the health risk; |
| (c) | of any precautions to be taken by the consumers; and |
| (d) | of the time frame, if any, within which it may be expected that water of a safe quality will be provided. |