Abstract:
The quality of drinking water is a global concern. The increase in ineffective Waste
Water Treatment Plants (WWTP) and increased human activity contribute to water
pollution, resulting in adverse health effects in various populations dependent on
these water sources. Water sources are often contaminated with chemicals and
pollutants, some of which have endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) properties.
The p study site Melusi is a non-sewage informal settlement in Pretoria North, home
to over 3000 inhabitants, dependent on external water sources for daily water use
and consumption. Thus it is imperative to screen water contaminants, particularly
EDCs, to protect the drinking water source and decontamination to ensure drinking
water supply security and resilience.
This study aimed to determine the occurrence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals,
pharmaceuticals and viral content in drinking water sources and WWTP in Melusi,
Pretoria. The study is novel in that although these contaminants have been noted in
an array of literature; however, not much has been reported in a South African
context. Thus the results are critical to investigating the extent of the problem from
these contaminants.
