As South Africa marks National Water Week (20 - 26 March 2025) and World Water Day (22 March 2025), citizens are urged to use water sparingly and support initiatives aimed at conserving the country’s most precious resource. With the theme of this year’s campaign focused on educating the public about water conservation, urgent attention is also being drawn to the deteriorating state of municipal water infrastructure and the pressing need for investment in high-quality piping solutions to ensure water security for future generations.

Water Crisis in South Africa: A Looming Threat

Towns and cities throughout South Africa have been experiencing frequent and widespread water outages, particularly in early summer when demand rises with higher temperatures. According to the National Department of Water & Sanitation’s (DWS) Water Security Dashboard (www.dws.gov.za) the balance between supply and demand is expected to persist until the completion of Phase Two of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, the Polihali Dam, scheduled for 2028. Additionally, years of underinvestment in municipal infrastructure have led to declining service levels, with theft, vandalism, and loadshedding further exacerbating the crisis.

A significant concern is the high level of municipal water losses, which includes both non-revenue water (NRW) —water that is pumped but not paid for—and real or physical losses, which refer to water lost through leaks and system failures. In Johannesburg, for example, NRW currently stands at a staggering 46%, while the figures for Ekurhuleni and Tshwane are 30% and 36%, respectively. Real losses, which should be below 15%, are currently at 35% in Johannesburg, 28% in Ekurhuleni, and 33% in Tshwane. With approximately 500 leaks reported in Gauteng metros daily, urgent infrastructure maintenance and upgrades are needed to stem these losses.

The Role of High-Quality Pipes in Water Security

Jan Venter, CEO of the Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association (SAPPMA), highlights the critical role of reliable water infrastructure and the importance of using high-quality pipes that meet international standards.

“Our country is facing a water crisis that is worsening every year due to infrastructure failures and excessive water wastage. The only way to ensure a sustainable water future is through urgent investment in durable, high-quality water infrastructure. It is crucial that municipalities specify the use of only pipes bearing the SAPPMA logo in all water repairs, upgrades, and installations. This guarantees that the pipes meet international quality standards and will not fail prematurely, leading to further water losses.”

To enforce these standards, SAPPMA continues its Operation Superior Quality, which includes ongoing unannounced audits and strict compliance checks to ensure that only the best-quality pipes are used in South Africa’s water infrastructure projects.

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Collaborative Efforts to Strengthen Water Security

The DWS, in collaboration with Rand Water and Gauteng municipalities, has been working on a coordinated response to address water supply challenges since 2022. In June 2024, the Platform for a Water Secure Gauteng (PWSG) was established to bring together public sector entities, private sector stakeholders, and civil society to tackle the crisis collectively.

In his 2025 State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged the dire state of municipal services, including disruptions to water and electricity supply, neglected roads, and failing sanitation systems. He announced that national government would begin working with municipalities to establish professionally managed, ring-fenced utilities to ensure sustained investment and maintenance of water and electricity infrastructure.

Ramaphosa further outlined plans to review the municipal funding model, as many local governments lack a sustainable revenue base. The government is engaging financial institutions and investors to unlock R100 billion in infrastructure financing, with revised regulations for public-private partnerships (PPPs) aimed at mobilising private sector expertise and funding.

Infrastructure Investment: A Hopeful Yet Uncertain Future

Over the next three years, government has pledged to allocate over R940 billion to infrastructure development, with R375 billion earmarked for spending by state-owned enterprises (SOEs). This funding is intended to revitalise roads, bridges, dams, and waterways, modernise ports and airports, and support economic growth. The Infrastructure Fund has already approved 12 blended finance projects worth nearly R38 billion over the past year.

However, SAPPMA remains cautiously optimistic about these promises. “We sincerely hope that these commitments do not become yet another set of empty promises and failing pipe dreams. South Africa desperately needs substantial investment in its water infrastructure, and we need to see genuine political will to see these projects through,” says Venter.

A Call to Action for Water Conservation

While systemic changes and infrastructure investments are necessary, individual and collective action remains crucial in addressing the current water crisis. Citizens, households, and businesses must actively participate in water conservation by reducing consumption, fixing leaks, and using water-efficient technologies.

As South Africa observes National Water Week, the message is clear: Every drop counts and every pipe matters. Through proper infrastructure investment, improved municipal management, and responsible water usage, we can safeguard South Africa’s water future for generations to come.