non revenue waterlatest news & developments
The Blue, Green and No Drop certification programmes are the department’s regulatory mechanisms to improve municipal drinking water quality, wastewater management, water conservation and demand management.

SA’s water crisis deepens: Nearly half of wastewater systems critical

The latest Green, Blue and No Drop reports show widespread deterioration of water and sanitation infrastructure. Nearly half of wastewater systems are critical, drinking water improvements are marginal and non-revenue water losses remain high in multiple provinces, highlighting urgent need for municipal investment and reform

  • Sheree Bega
8 min read
Down the drain: Failures in municipal infrastructure are leaving residents without reliable water supply. Almost 50% of the country’s precious resource is lost before it reaches consumers. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy

Poor upkeep behind water crisis, civil engineers say

They have stressed the need for skilled oversight and preventive maintenance

  • Sheree Bega
7 min read
South Africa’s water crisis is not about a lack of resources; it’s about corruption. Photo: Mlungisi Louw/Volksblad/Gallo Images/Getty Images

Smidgen of hope as eThekwini water losses decline — but they are still excessive

Despite slight improvements, supply remains strained and ratepayers continue to demand urgent action on infrastructure, billing and governance

  • Des Erasmus
4 min read
Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina has approved a temporary increase in water abstraction by Rand Water to stabilise Gauteng’s strained municipal water systems (DWS/X)

Minister blames municipal mismanagement for Gauteng’s rising water demand

The province is ‘not doing the right things’ to rescue itself from running out of water, Pemmy Majodina told parliament’s portfolio committee on water and sanitation

  • Sheree Bega
7 min read
National reports show that only 14-16% of municipal water systems consistently provide water that is safe to drink. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Fixing water leaks will help avert a national disaster

Only a collective response will avert the crisis that is, in part, caused by the loss of non-revenue water

  • Eyaaz
5 min read