Durban’s drinking water is safe despite floods, says official

City Press (Durban, South Africa): The eThekwini municipality has allayed fears that its drinking water may have been contaminated during the recent floods that left a trail of destruction and claimed lives. “We would like to assure all our residents and thousands of delegates attending the climate change conference that our drinking water was not affected by floods,” said acting head of health at the municipality Dr Ayo Olowolagba.

Fears were raised after the city announced floods had caused sewers and certain waste water treatment plants to overflow. Olowolagba said there was no need to panic.

Heavy downpours on Sunday night, hours before the start of the COP17 climate change conference, damaged properties and claimed five lives. Olowolagba said it was possible that certain water bodies had been contaminated with sewage and that this may pose an increased risk to public health....