By: Natasha Archary
Thomas Msengana sparked the conversation about whether South Africans are paranoid about drinking tap water, in light of the cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal.
Standing in on Kaya Drive, Thomas had the team concerned that he was still drinking tap water without first boiling the water as a safety precaution.
Thomas said he didn’t feel there was a need to because Rand Water assured Gauteng residents that even though part of the Vaal river had tested positive for cholera, tap water in other parts of the province is safe to consume.
The water utility says that water is first disinfected with chlorine before being pumped to homes and businesses, and assured residents in the province that the water from their taps is safe for consumption.
Thomas stressed that boiling the tap water before drinking is not enough to make sure that people don’t contract cholera, because one would need to take precautions, even when brushing one’s teeth or preparing food.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are 5 basic cholera prevention steps, apart from drinking bottled water when visiting areas that are affected by the cholera outbreak.
These include:
- Be sure you drink and use safe water. This includes not consuming bottled water where the seal is broken.
- Wash your hands often and thoroughly using water that is safe
- Discard nappies in a safe way. Make use of toilets if accessible. If not, bury fecal matter or ensure that defecation takes place far from any body of water.
- Boil it, cook it, peel or leave it. This is in regards to fruits, vegetables, meats and seafoods. Any raw fruit and veggie that cannot be peeled should be avoided.
- Clean up safely
Listen to the conversation on Kaya Drive:
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