Water Quality 10% open

What data is expected?

Data, measured at the water source, on the quality of water is essential for both the delivery of services and the prevention of diseases. In order to satisfy the minimum requirements for this category, data should be available on level of the following chemicals by water source and be updated at least weekly:

• fecal coliform
• arsenic
• fluoride levels
• nitrates
• TDS (Total dissolved solids)

What data is available

•   Openly licensed? No (No URL given)
•   Is the data available for free? No
•   Is the data machine readable? Unsure (n/a)
•   Available in bulk? No
•   Is the data provided on a timely and up to date basis? Unsure
•   Publicly available? No(as Blue Drop System published by Water and Sanitation)
•   Is data in digital form? Yes
•   Is the data available online? No (No URL given)
•   Does the data exist? Yes

Details

The department of water and sanitation monitors the quality of South African water through programs such as the Blue Drop System. It is not clear how to get at the data or in what form it is available.

Reviewer comments

Municipalities are responsible for data collection but the Blue Drop System is supposed to monitor them. Despite Blue Drop System giving ratings and assessing that water was "safe" https://www.dwa.gov.za/dir_ws/DWQR/Default.asp?Pageid=21&WSID=797&WSACode=TSH https://www.dwa.gov.za/dir_ws/DWQR/Default.asp?Pageid=40&PageHeading=Compliance%20Overview&Prov=0&wsa=0

The actual water quality reports are not anywhere to be seen. It seems the municipalities send the data to this system and then it is assessed as safe or not. No sharing or opening up of data.