Dataset on physicochemical and microbial properties of raw water in four drinking water treatment plants based in South Africa

The present paper aims at determining the status of surface water quality by applying the treatability index for the raw water in four water treatment plants (WTPs), namely Vaalkop, Klipdrift, Wallmansthal, and Cullinan. These plants are based in South Africa. Sampling was conducted from July 2011 to June 2018 (7 years). The collected water samples were analysed on monthly basis over the specified period. Three Hundred and thirty six (336) water samples were collected and analysed. The Treatability Index (TI) was calculated for twenty-one physicochemical and microbial parameters, which include pH, conductivity, chloride, sodium, potassium, hardness, alkalinity, precipitation potential, turbidity, colour, E. coli, organic carbon, chlorophyll, nitrite, ammonia, nitrates, phosphate, iron, manganese, and sulphate. The computed TI values range from 0.1 to 1755.5 and the water quality was unsuitable for a number of defined uses. The data demonstrated high treatment demand for raw water. On that note, the surface water from the monitored places is not suitable for drinking purposes. The data and treatability index denoted the need for treatment prior consumption. The collected water quality data can be reused for future references, modelling, and trending of historic data to understand current and prospect future changes in the properties of our raw water qualities.