The Setting of Water Quality Standards – South African Experience and Viewpoints

Following the passing of the Water Act of 1956 in South Africa, effluent standards were established in 1962, comprising a general standard and a special standard for protected catchment area, but no standards wer set for potable water. With the use of water reclaimed from sewage effluents, it is now considered necessary to establish potable water quality criteria. The existing effluent standards , experience in applying them, proposals on which potable water quality criteria will be based, and aspects which should be considered in setting standards for river basin management are discussed. They stress that effluent standards should be based on the uses of the receiving water.