Water utility Rand Water on Friday assured that no ARV traces are in the water it supplies.

The bulk water services provider, which has been monitoring ARVs since 2015, said that drinking water remains safe for human consumption.

“Rand Water, like other research institutions, detected ARVs in the natural waters located downstream of wastewater treatment plants,” it explained, noting, however, that the utility abstracts water from the Vaal dam, upstream of these wastewater treatment plants.

“Rand Water has not detected ARVs at the point of abstraction in the Vaal dam and concomitantly in any of its treated final drinking water.”

The water utility reiterated that it remains committed to protecting the health of consumers by providing potable water that complies with SANS 241 standards and is safe for human consumption.

It also remains committed to ongoing research around emerging contaminants in source waters, through active participation in national research projects and the funding of university chairs in water use, organic chemistry and public health.

“Rand Water is always available to provide accurate information to academia, journalists and media practitioners.

“Thus, we urge academia, journalists and media practitioners to use Rand Water’s communications avenues to obtain correct information so that the media can comply with its objective of ‘educating the public’ with accurate information.”