Staff Reporter
The Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation has raised concerns over the mounting water challenges in Gauteng, attributing much of the crisis to the failure of municipalities in fulfilling their roles in water conservation and payment for bulk services.
The committee held an urgent meeting on Tuesday with Rand Water and the Department of Water and Sanitation to address these issues.
“Municipalities are simply not playing their part in ensuring an effective water system from source to tap. It’s unacceptable that Rand Water has to shoulder the consequences of municipal failures,” said committee chairperson, Leon Basson.
A major issue identified by the committee was the significant loss of water within the municipal systems.
The No Drop Report estimates that 49.2% of Gauteng’s treated water is classified as non-revenue water — meaning nearly half of the province’s water is lost through leaks and illegal connections.
Basson said that a sustainable water system required municipalities to step up their maintenance efforts.
“To achieve efficiency, municipalities need to repair leaks, improve metering and billing, enhance revenue collection, manage water pressure, and engage communities in water conservation efforts. Without these interventions, the challenges will persist at the expense of water users,” he told the committee.
A troubling statistic raised was Gauteng’s average water usage of 279 litres per person per day, far exceeding the international average of 173 litres.
The committee urged municipalities to implement demand management strategies to curb this unsustainable water use and ramp up community awareness campaigns.
The non-payment of bulk water services by municipalities remains another pressing issue.
Overdue debts, which now totaled more than R5 billion, were creating severe cash flow problems for water boards, putting some at risk of bankruptcy.
In response, the committee scheduled a meeting with the National Treasury and key government departments for November 12, 2024, to develop urgent solutions.
Despite the challenges, the committee commended Rand Water for its dedication to infrastructure maintenance and its R4.83 billion capital expenditure plan, aimed at securing a stable water supply.
Furthermore, the committee welcomed Rand Water’s intensified collaboration with municipalities to address the ongoing crisis.
“Gauteng is crucial to South Africa’s economic well-being, and water is central to its socio-economic success. Given the country’s water scarcity and climate change threats, collaboration among all stakeholders is essential to prevent a disaster,” said Basson.
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