The water quality for Bloem Water met the SANS 241:2006 requirements and no water quality failures were experienced. Water quality monitoring programmes are pursued internally at Plant level and externally with the University of the Free State.
Purification Plants from which water is distributed for human consumption are situated in three main areas, namely Bethulie on the Orange River, Rustfontein on the Modder River and Welbedacht on the Caledon River.
Water was sampled at the source (before purification) as well as at the distribution points (after purification). Internally at Plant level the monitoring programme involves testing on a 2-hourly and 8-hourly basis. Externally, through the University of the Free State, bio-monitoring takes place quarterly and chemical monitoring and microbial monitoring takes place weekly, bi-monthly and monthly. Bloem Water supplies drinking water that is, in terms of quality, amongst the best in South Africa as it ensures strict compliance with SANS 241:2006 guidelines. All three regions participated in the Blue Drop assessments and data was loaded onto the BDS.
All Plant losses were managed in an effort to be within the expected norms and standards
of the industry for WaterTreatment Plant losses, within Bloem Water amounting to
9.58% (norm 4-6%). All losses are determined via the water model that is being utilized
by Bloem Water in order to manage and calculate water losses on a monthly basis.
The leak detection programmes in place are invaluable in reducing water losses. From
a system input of 73 644 290 million m³ for 2010/2011, water losses amounted to 14.82%
of which 1.98% were apparent losses and 12.84% real losses. Although 12.84% is an
acceptable loss, it is
endeavoured to have this loss at 10%. A decrease of 1.73% in Plant losses have been
achieved in comparison to the previous year.
