water qualitylatest news & developments
Cumulative strain: The Klip River flows through Soweto, Lenasia and the broader Midvaal area before joining the Vaal River, passing industrial zones, agricultural land, wetlands, protected areas and densely populated settlements. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy

Pollution threatens vital waterway

From stormwater and sewage to degraded wetlands, the Klip River’s decline highlights the urgent need for infrastructure repairs and ecological restoration, scientists warn

Ecologically stressed: The
Jukskei River has been choked by
pollution, encroaching informal
settlements in flood-prone zones
and ageing water infrastructure.
Photo: Supplied

Investing in urban nature pays off

The Jukskei River catchment project highlights how green infrastructure can cut flood damage, manage invasive species and improve urban health

Wastewater: An overflowing drain flowing in a town in Mpumalanga. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy

Mpumalanga municipality slapped with record R650m penalty for years of raw sewage spills

In a landmark ruling, the Emalahleni local municipality was ordered to fund major repairs after pleading guilty to persistent sewage pollution that contaminated rivers feeding the Olifants system

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.

Delays in producing water Drop reports spark outrage

Water and sanitation department is under fire from water experts for contract process that has held up the production of the water quality reports

Committed: Volunteers scrape the invasive weeds and litter, which have been dragged in by members of the rowing and canoeing clubs, onto Wemmer Pan’s banks. Photos: Madison Bannon

Restoring Wemmer Pan’s glory

A diverse community of rowing enthusiasts and local residents who volunteer their time is working tirelessly to clean up the historic pan

A flotilla of hundreds of boats sailed effortlessly on the Vaal River at the weekend, without being hindered by invasive water lettuce and water hyacinth

Invasive weeds cleared from Vaal River through community-government collaboration

This was achieved through a partnership involving the Vaal community, Rand Water, Rhodes University’s Centre for Biological Control, the water and sanitation department and the department of forestry, fisheries and the environment

Nonhlanhla Kalebaila, a research manager on water quality at the Water Research Commission and Bonani Madikizela, a water research manager at the Water Research Commission.

Experts call for mindset shift and infrastructure upgrades to tackle water crisis

It’s time to move beyond the planning and strategy phases and begin implementation

An employee with the City of Tshwane collects a sample of water from a municipal tank truck in Hammanskraal on May 23, 2023, where a cholera outbreak, including surrounding areas, killed 31 people.
(Photo by MICHELE SPATARI/AFP via Getty Images)

SA water woes must not be ‘exaggerated’, says Mchunu

The minister is adamant the country is not experiencing a crisis, despite about half the water in our systems being unsafe for drinking