AfriForum launches Blue and Green Drop Branch Project 2014

Civil rights organisation AfriForum today launched its own national Blue and Green Drop Branch Project.

According to Julius Kleynhans, Head of Environmental Affairs at AfriForum, the Project is part of an initiative to test the quality of potable and treated water in the municipalities in its 125 branches across the country. "AfriForum will monitor the municipalities to ensure that the water is up to standard in order to promote the sustainability and conservation of this critical resource," said Kleynhans.

"If standards are not upheld, we will put pressure on the municipality to step in. If nothing is done we will take the necessary legal steps to ensure that a solution is found," Kleynhans emphasized.

"South Africa is facing a huge crisis as a result of the mismanagement of our water resources and its infrastructure, and this will no longer be tolerated. We need political will, efficient financial and infrastructure management, and the co-operation of communities in our municipalities to conserve this critical resource sustainably," Kleynhans added.

AfriForum hereby launch the #potable water initiative to make people aware of water quality and issues. We invite the public to act as watchdog and report water-related issues to AfriForum here or alternatively, indicate whether the water in your town is clean? SMS "Yes" or "No" to 32277. R1/SMS.

The project will test potable (Blue Drop) and sewage water (Green Drop) quality to ensure that national standards are upheld.

Local authorities and the media will be invited to accompany the test teams in order to ensure the validity of the tests. Water samples will be tested by independent SANAS accredited laboratories and results will be made available on 17 March 2014 to the media and the public.

Statement issued by Julius Kleynhans, Head: Environmental Affairs, AfriForum, February 17 2014

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