enca - 12 days ago

Here’s what an expert says about drinking water when it is restored Nokuthula Khanyile Wed, 02/04/2026 - 12:01 JOHANNESBURG - Water shortages and supply disruptions have been hitting large parts of Gauteng lately.Many residents have been left wondering if the water they receive is even safe to drink.Ageing pipes, poor maintenance and rising demand are straining the country s supply systems.Jo Barnes from the Department of Global Health at Stellenbosch University advised residents in areas affected by water shortages to avoid consuming the water for at least 24 hours after it is restored.READ | Joburg struggling to recover after reservoir failureJoburg struggling to recover after reservoir failureBarnes says when there has been a water outage, the first batch of water coming through may be of lower quality.She warned, When the pipes have been without water, there is sludge buildup. The first day or two, the water may be disco it may certainly not be of high quality. But she says there are ways to protect your family.“The first thing residents should do is to have a layer of dish cloth and filter the water through it. Once the water has been filtered, you can add a small amount of pure household bleach to it and let it stand for a while.”Other methods include filling the water in a clear bottle and putting it in the sun for two days.

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