Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Sello Seitlholo says they can make cash available to upgrade wastewater plants to deal with like antiretrovirals (ARVs) that are now being detected in drinking water.

This follows a study by North West University and the Water Research Commission, which detected ARV residue at wastewater plants, some of which were above recommended safety levels.

The ministry maintains that the amounts are extremely minimal and cannot transmit Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or affect the safety and quality of drinking water.

PODCAST| Traces of ARVs in water pose no health risk:

Seitlholo says the antiretroviral drug traces found in drinking water pose no health risk.

Seitlholo further reveals that particular contaminants are increasingly identified as a concern for water quality, particularly in wastewater as well as reclaimed wastewater for reuse purposes.

“Indeed, as it stands, there isn’t any indication that the presence of these ARV residues in drinking water is harmful, although, of course, prolonged exposure to the broader population may lead to some form of anti-microbial resistance. The department, obviously through its grant funding, can make provision to municipalities in terms of upgrading or having an extra component in the wastewater treatment infrastructure in order for them to address this particular issue,” says Seitlholo.

Video | NW University study detects high levels of ARVs in SA water: