The drinking water quality in South Africa has been backsliding since 2014 and a staggering 46% achieved poor or bad microbiological water quality, according to a recent report released by South Africa’s Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS).
In early December, the DWS launched a new report called the Blue Drop Report, which assesses drinking water quality and offers analyses and diagnostics to help water services institutions concentrate on particular areas for enhancement and development.
The report was carried out in all 958 water supply systems in each of the 144 water services authorities in South Africa and looked at the condition of the infrastructure, maintenance, operation, treatment processes, proper monitoring and staff expertise.
Drinking water
The report showed that there has been an overall increase in the number of systems in a critical state of performance between 2014 and 2023. In 2014, 174 water supply systems in 33 water services authorities were found to be in a critical state of performance compared to the 277 water services authorities found this year, representing 29%.
Moreover, the DWS found that there had been a severe regression in drinking water quality between 2014 and 2023. In 2014, 5% of water supply systems achieved poor or bad microbiological water quality compliance. Meanwhile, this year, 46% were found microbiologically unsafe for consumption.
In the country’s major metropolitan areas, Gauteng has the highest percentage of drinking water systems with excellent or good performance (62%), followed by Western Cape (50%), Northern Cape, on the other hand, has the highest percentage of drinking water systems with poor or critical performance (87%).
Non-revenue water
The Department of Water and Sanitation also released another study called the No Drop Report, which focuses on water losses and non-revenue water in all municipalities of South Africa.
The assessment found that national non-revenue water (NRW) increased from 37% in 2014 to 47% in 2023, which is well above the international average for NRW of 30%. According to the report, this rise in non-revenue water is caused by physical losses, including water leaking out of pipes above or underground, poorly functioning or non-existent water meters, illegal connections and poor billing and revenue collection.
The Department recommended municipalities improve the operation and maintenance of their infrastructure, including repairing leaks, improving metering, billing, revenue collection, and debtor management; improving pressure management; and engaging in community education and awareness; amongst other measures.
Another striking finding was that the average water consumption per capita is approximately 218 litres/capita/day compared to the international average of 173 l/c/d.
Wastewater treatment
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) released a third report: The Green Drop Progress Assessment, which focused on the country’s wastewater treatment plants. It found that 64% of wastewater treatment works are at high or critical risk of discharging partially treated or untreated water into rivers and the environment, posing environmental and health risks.
Conclusion
The overall conclusion from the three reports is a decline in drinking water quality, an increase in non-revenue water, and a deterioration in municipal wastewater treatment systems since the last reports in 2014.
The report's revelations have raised sufficient concern to elevate water services as a central focus on the national water agenda, calling for collaborative efforts from stakeholders across the sector.
