Newcastle residents living in certain areas of Madadeni have been advised to take precautionary measures regarding their tap water, following a statement from the Newcastle Local Municipality urging residents to boil water before consumption.
On Friday, 5 December 2025, the Newcastle Municipality’s Communications Unit issued a statement notifying residents of Madadeni Section 3 and K Section to exercise caution when using tap water.
This advisory follows confirmation that the current water supply in these areas does not meet the SANS 241 drinking water quality standards, which are the legally enforceable national standards in South Africa. These standards, developed and maintained by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), aim to ensure safe drinking water.
Consequently, non-compliance with these standards, particularly regarding microbiological safety, poses serious health risks. Exposure to contaminated water can cause gastrointestinal illnesses such as diarrhoea, vomiting, and stomach cramps.
“As a precautionary measure, you are advised to boil tap water for at least 1 minute before consumption to make it safe for drinking, cooking, and food preparation. Municipal teams are on site attending to the contamination, carrying out remedial work, flushing the system, and increasing water quality monitoring,” stated the Municipality’s Communications Unit.
The municipality further emphasised that this alert will remain in effect for the next two days, or until further notice. “Residents will be informed if there are further developments from our laboratory tests,” the Communications Unit noted.
In the meantime, residents in the affected areas are urged to avoid drinking tap water directly, using it to make ice, drinks, juices, or baby formula, and cooking with tap water unless the food will be boiled for at least one minute. At the same time, the Communications Unit advised residents to take the following precautions: use only boiled or bottled water for drinking and cooking; brush teeth with boiled or bottled water; wash hands and bathe as usual while ensuring no water is swallowed; wash laundry as normal; and bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute before use.
As scores of Madadeni residents are being urged to avoid drinking tap water until further notice, the Communications Unit concluded:
“Newcastle Municipality is committed to restoring safe water quality as quickly as possible. We apologise for the inconvenience and thank residents for their cooperation.”
It should be noted that this warning follows observations reported by Newcastillian News in July 2025, when the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) highlighted that Newcastle Local Municipality’s water standards have regressed over the years, according to the department’s Blue Drop and Green Drop Reports.
The Blue Drop Report provides a rigorous assessment of drinking water quality and management practices across municipalities, evaluating the entire water supply chain—from source to tap—against national standards (SANS 241).
Addressing these issues, DWS Spokesperson Mavasa Wisane clarified that the Department released the Green Drop 2022 and Blue Drop 2023 reports, based on national audits of wastewater and drinking water systems, respectively.
“Newcastle Local Municipality has regressed in its performance since 2014, resulting in a decrease in its Blue Drop score from 89.06% in 2014 to 84.35% in 2023. Whereas the Green Drop 2022 report showed that the Newcastle Local Municipality regressed in its performance from the score of 78% in 2013 to 58% in 2021. These and other years’ audit reports are available on the DWS website (https://ws.dws.gov.za/IRIS). These audits are done biennially, and there is an assessment process currently underway with the reports expected to be released at the end of the year,” elaborated Wisane at the time.
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While municipal teams continue their work to restore water safety, the situation in Madadeni underscores the ongoing challenges faced by local authorities in maintaining consistent water quality. Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and follow official guidance, recognising that even short-term lapses in compliance can pose health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations such as young children and the elderly.
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FAQs for Madadeni water quality issues
No. According to Newcastle Municipality, the water in Madadeni Section 3 and K Section does not currently meet SANS 241 drinking water standards. Residents are advised to boil all tap water for at least one minute before consuming it.
Contaminated water may contain harmful bacteria such as E. coli, which can cause diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, and stomach cramps. Chemical or heavy metal contamination can lead to more serious long-term issues, including kidney damage and developmental problems in children.
The Municipality recommends boiling tap water for a minimum of one full minute at a rolling boil. This applies to drinking water, cooking water, ice-making, juice preparation, and baby formula.
The advisory stays in place for at least two days or until the Municipality releases updated results from ongoing laboratory tests. Residents will be notified of any changes through official communication channels.
One Response
My sincere condolences please know my thoughts and prayers are with all the family and friends so very sorry