Service Issue 81

S
water
Decay after progress: South
Africa’s basic water supply services
Water is at the heart of health and wellbeing for people and nature. Access to it is a human rights
issue recognised by international declarations and national standards. It is vital for education
and economic productivity. Ultimately, it connects the environment to society.
By Anja du Plessis*
TThe most recent statistics (2020) show a general global trend
of positive progress in access to water. The proportion of
the global population using safely managed drinking water
services increased from 70.2% in 2015 to 74.3% in 2020. But despite
this progress, in 2020, two-billion people still lacked safely managed
drinking water. The Sub-Saharan African region has the largest
numbers, with 387-million people without access to basic drinking
water services. Current coverage of access to regulated drinking
water is estimated at only 54% of the region’s population.
In South Africa, the right to water is enshrined in the Constitution.
Before the country’s transition to democracy in 1994, government
policies were focused on the advancement of the white minority.
The development of the country’s water
resources did not consider improving the
position of the mostly black, poor majority.
South Africa has made significant
progress since then in expanding water
services, especially within the disadvantaged,
vulnerable communities and rural areas.
But inequality in access to basic services is
still a reality. Progress with water supply and
sanitation service delivery has been slow and
in some instances, it’s deteriorating.
Water is a critical resource. Its provision
should be seen as an enabler that
facilitates socioeconomic development.
Water infrastructure needs to be suitably
maintained – and upgraded – to ensure
water access and reliable supply to guarantee
water security.
development, improving the quantity and the quality of water supply
to citizens. This created a comprehensive legislative framework for
the provision of water and sanitation services.
Progress was subsequently made by advancing and extending
water supply to rural areas and previously under-serviced areas.
During the first decade of democracy, an estimated 13.4-million
more people had access to basic water supply services.
WATER ACCESS REALITY
South Africa’s water situation has since deteriorated. The reliability
of water services and infrastructure – as shown by frequent water
supply interruptions – has been on a downward trend. It’s important
PROGRESS IN SOUTH AFRICA
In 1994, about 14-million people (35%)
in South Africa didn’t have basic water
supply services. The minimum standard
of these services is defined as clean, piped
water delivered within 200 metres of a
household at a minimum flow rate of 10
litres per minute, for 300 days a year, with
any interruption not lasting longer than two
days at a time.
The government adopted various policies
and programmes aimed at sustainable water
Water infrastructure delivered versus vs water supply in 2021.
Credit: National Integrated Water Information System.
22 | Service magazine