AWSISA concerned over municipal water management failures
The African Water and Sanitation Industry Association (AWSISA) on Monday raised concern over the critical state of South Africa's water sector and the failure of municipalities to manage water resources effectively.
Municipalities are failing to invest in and maintain their water infrastructure, leading to a significant loss of water, despite the various grants allocated by national government, the association said in a statement.
In Gauteng, for example, municipalities lose about 2.6-billion litres of water a day, a “staggering” loss that is a reminder of the inefficiencies and mismanagement of water resources by municipalities.
“The situation is dire, and it is imperative that municipalities take their responsibilities as water service authorities seriously,” AWSISA commented, adding that municipalities owe water boards over R25-billion, further threatening the water sector’s financial sustainability.
The failure to maintain and repair municipal water infrastructure means that significant volumes of water within the system are lost, while intermittent power supply continues to hinder effective treatment and supply of water.
To address the financial sustainability challenges facing municipalities, AWSISA emphasises that the culture of nonpayment by citizens must be changed, and that government departments and businesses need to act responsibly by paying their municipal bills timeously.
AWSISA also urged provincial and national government, the business sector and citizens to hold municipalities accountable for their role in the water crisis.
“It is imperative that we work together to address the root causes of the problem and ensure that municipalities are equipped to manage water resources effectively,” AWSISA concluded, noting that municipalities must take immediate action to address the water losses, pay their debts to water boards and work towards ensuring sustainable water services for all.
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